PGA TOUR
The NORTHERN TRUST
Finau Scores First Win In Five Years At The NORTHERN TRUST
America’s Tony Finau freed himself of a 1975-day winless streak at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey. The 31-year-old collected the first of three FedExCup Playoffs events after he defeated Australia’s Cameron Smith in a playoff to win The NORTHERN TRUST. It was his first PGA Tour victory since claiming his maiden tour win at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open. In that period, Finau recorded 39 top 10 finished including eight runner-up performances.
The final round of the Northern Trust was postponed to Monday, with Hurricane Henri dumping more than 200mm of rain over the layout to render the course unplayable on Sunday.
Finau started the final round two shots behind Smith and world No. 1 Jon Rahm. Either co-leader was hoping to become the first player to win on the PGA Tour after holding the 54-hole lead since Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship in May. Finau, who entered the week as the world No. 22, produced two birdies and one bogey on the front nine before making a surge for the title after the turn. The Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup representative gained five shots in five holes from the 12th hole to reach 20-under and join Rahm in the lead. The incredible stretch featured a stunning eagle at the par 5, 13th hole where he launched a six-iron from 217 yards to inside three feet of the hole. Finau tapped in the eagle—it was his first eagle in 394 holes. After making a clutch par putt at the 72nd hole from six feet, Finau claimed the clubhouse lead at 20-under.
Rahm look comfortable all-day covering his first 13 holes in 4-under and move to 20-under for the event. The Spaniard’s first bogey of the day came at the 15th hole after an errant drive found one of the fairway bunkers. The 26-year-old, who was looking to become the seventh player to collect two PGA Tour wins this season, needed to birdie the final hole to match Finau’s score. Rahm made a bogey to fall back to 18-under and outright third.
Smith made a late run for the title in regulation play with unanswered birdies at the 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes. The 28-year-old joined Finau in the lead at 20-under after converting his birdie attempt from seven feet at the second last hole. Smith found the final green in regulation and faced a birdie putt for the win from 23 feet. After leaving the putt a foot short, the Aussie tapped in for a par and headed into the playoff with Finau.
The pair replayed the 18th hole. Of note, both players earned their respective PGA Tour wins in playoffs—Smith (3-0) and Finau (1-3). Finau won the playoff at the first extra hole with a par. Smith blew his tee shot out of bounds to the right.
As well as the leading groups, attention was also fixed on those players who would advance in the FedExCup Playoffs with just the top 70 on the FedExCup Standings making to next week at the BMW Championship.
Keith Mitchell produced the clutch performance of the week making birdies at the final three holes to work himself inside the top 70. The 29-year-old American started the event at 101st in the FedExCup standings. Mitchell made birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to move to 71st place playing the final hole. He poured in his third consecutive birdie from 16 feet to move inside the top 70 (63rd). Mitchell finished in a tie for 8th place at 13-under.
On the flip side, Seamus Power narrowly missed his chance to make it to next week’s BMW Championship. The Irishman, who won the Barbasol Championship in July, made a costly bogey at the final hole to drop from inside the top 70 to 72nd place on the FedExCup standings.
With his win, Finau moves to No. 1 on the FedExCup Standings with Rahm in second place and Smith holding third position. Smith leads fellow Aussies Marc Leishman (35th), Cam Davis (36th) and Matt Jones (42nd) in the run for the massive bonus prize for winning the FedExCup of US$15 million. Phil Mickelson will play next week after finishing on the bubble at 70th spot on the tally.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson was at even par after the first two rounds to miss the cut by one shot.
The PGA Tour moves to Caves Valley Golf Club, Maryland for The BMW Championship. Jon Rahm is the defending champion.
Final Scores
The NORTHERN TRUST
1. Tony Finau -20
2. Cameron Smith -20
3. Jon Rahm -18
T4. Alex Noren -15
T4. Tom Hoge -15
T4. Justin Thomas -15
7. Erik van Rooyen -14
T8. Kevin Na -13
T8. Keith Mitchell -13
T8. Corey Conners -13
Other Australians
T31. Cam Davis -8
T47. Marc Leishman -6
MC. Adam Scott
MC. Jason Day
MC. Matt Jones
Photo credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
