Tony Finau is a long-hitting American golfer with one of the most unique styles in the game. He is also a serial winner on tour and widely regarded as one of the most popular, too. Get to know him better with these 25 facts.
Tony Finau Facts
1. Of Tongan and Samoan descent, Finau was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 14, 1989.
2. His full name is Milton Pouha Finau.
3. He is married to Alayna Galea’i-Finau and they have five children together called Jraice, Leilene Aiaga, Tony, Sage, and Sienna-Vee.
4. His first PGA Tour win came at the Puerto Rico Open in 2016 where he beat Steve Marino in a playoff.
5. He would have to wait five years and 142 starts to pick up his second PGA Tour title at the 2021 Northern Trust at Liberty National. Since then, he was won four more and has six overall.
6. Finau's father Kelepi worked graveyard shifts for Delta and, as a result, didn't have a lot of money. So when his children showed interest in golf, he decided to buy used equipment and also built a make-shift practice centre out of the garage.
7. He shot 59 at Silverleaf Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona in November 2021, playing a casual round with Jon Rahm. He came home in 28, finishing with eight consecutive birdies. He didn't even break the course record - he tied it, as Rahm had also previously shot 59. Finau also broke 60 at Victory Ranch Golf Club in Utah in July 2020.
8. Tony grew up with six siblings, including older brother Gipper who has played on the Web.com Tour - now known as the Korn Ferry Tour.
9. His mother Ravena is widely accredited with pushing Tony to making a living out of golf. Sadly, she died in a car accident in 2011.
10. He is a Mormon. He told Golf.com in 2016; "I’m pretty spiritual as well. I enjoy doing some church activities and doing my part in my community and my church."
11. His joint-best result in a Major championship came at Royal Portrush in 2019, where he finished 3rd in the Open Championship. He also ended T3 at the 2024 US Open.
12. Finau, made his Ryder Cup debut in 2018, and had also played in the Junior Ryder Cup in 2004 and 2006 for the United States. He was on the losing side every time.
13. He made his second Ryder Cup appearance for Team USA in 2021 at Whistling Straits. He was on the winning side and produced one point from three matches.
14. His first sport was fire-knife dancing, a Samoan ritual.
15. He is the cousin of NBA Basketball player Jabari Parker, who last played for the Boston Celtics before moving to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Liga ACB.
16. His coach is Boyd Summerhays, former PGA Tour pro and older brother of Daniel Summerhays, who won over $8.9m on the PGA Tour.
17. He plays Ping golf clubs and wears Nike apparel and footwear.
18. He practiced golf in his garage as a child, using a mattress as a make-shift golf net. He once claimed he hit around 1,000 balls a day.
19. He won in back-to-back weeks on the PGA Tour in 2022, triumphing at both the 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage Classic within seven days at the end of July for his third and fourth PGA Tour titles.
20. He has won over $42 million on the PGA Tour.
21. He is a huge food lover and says if he wasn't a golfer, he would like to be a chef.
22. Finau finished second on Golf Channel's "Big Break Disney" in 2009.
23. His favorite sports teams are the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Utah Utes and the USC Trojans.
24. Finau was offered multiple college basketball scholarships but opted for golf instead.
25. Finau is often remembered for the occasion at the Masters Par 3 tournament where he recorded an Ace and then dislocated his ankle during the ensuing celebration. He casually popped it back in and went on to finish inside the top-10 at the main tournament, on debut!
