The Rise and Recent Struggles of Tony Finau: A Golfing Perspective

Tony Finau has remained a beloved figure in professional golf for nearly a decade, captivating fans since his runner-up finish in Big Break Disney Golf in 2009. After years of perseverance on mini-tours, Finau catapulted into the spotlight by winning the Puerto Rico Open in 2016. His success continued, qualifying for the Tour Championship in 2017 and establishing himself as one of golf’s elite players by 2018.

By 2021, Finau had accumulated ten top-10 finishes in major championships, including an impressive three in 2018 alone. However, despite securing five titles between 2021 and 2023, his career trajectory appears to have leveled off. After finishing in the top 10 in half of his first 20 major outings, he has managed only one top-10 finish in his last 18 attempts. Previously ranked in the top 20 of the world rankings each year from 2018 to 2023, he found himself at 26th by the end of 2024. As 2025 approaches, Finau risks slipping below the top 100, raising concerns about his eligibility for future major championships. This past year, he posted just one top-10 finish— a T5 at Riviera in February.

What’s Causing Tony Finau’s Recent Struggles?

Let’s delve deeper into the elements that may have contributed to the recent decline in Finau’s game.

Finau’s Putter Is Not the Issue

At first glance, one might assume that Finau’s challenges stem from his putting. Indeed, he has faced difficulties with short putts at critical moments, experimenting with the notorious pencil grip and even attempting a one-handed birdie putt during the Memorial Tournament.

However, putting isn’t the root of his performance issues. Finau has consistently ranked outside the top 140 on the PGA Tour for putts made from inside 5 feet over the last five seasons, only breaking into the top 90 once. His "Strokes Gained: Putting" statistics reflect this:

• 2023: 125th
• 2022: 156th
• 2021: 124th
• Best Rank: 53rd in 2018, 69th in 2020

Even at his best, Finau has been an average putter at best, suggesting that while putting remains an obstacle, it is not the primary issue at this stage of his career.

A Sharp Decline in Iron Play

One evident factor behind Finau’s difficulties is his iron play. Since 2017, he has never finished worse than 39th in "Strokes Gained: Approach" until plunging to an unusual 135th this year. Last season, he was second only to Scottie Scheffler in this important statistic.

Despite this alarming dip, numerous players experience fluctuations in their performance during adjustments to their game. Finau has demonstrated consistently high-quality iron play over the past decade, so it may be premature to sound alarms about his performance decline just yet.

Finau’s Driver Is No Longer a Positive Factor

One of Finau’s hallmarks in the early years of his professional career was his impressive driving ability. He ranked 3rd in driving distance in 2016, holding top positions through 2020.

Unfortunately, this strength has diminished in recent seasons. Finau hasn’t placed in the top 30 for driving distance since 2020, finishing a career-low 73rd last year. Moreover, he is also facing challenges with accuracy, ranking 141st in accuracy off the tee this year and 128th in "Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee." This marks a troubling trend, with a decline in his SG: OTT ranking for eight consecutive years.

Now at 36 years old, around the average age for a Tour player and recently recovering from left knee surgery in 2024, Finau may be losing the athleticism that once defined his game. His swing, known for its explosive torque, might not be producing the same clubhead speed as before.

Can Tony Finau Bounce Back?

As we look ahead to 2026, Finau faces substantial pressure to remain within the top 100 players in the world and maintain his status in major championships. It’s likely that an additional year removed from surgery could lead to a resurgence in his iron game. However, with persistent issues on the greens, he must make adjustments off the tee.

Finau’s days of elite driving distance appear to be behind him. As he heads toward his 40s, he will need to prioritize increased accuracy off the tee to set up his iron play effectively. If he continues to lose distance without improving accuracy, his iron skills will strain under the pressure to keep pace with the best in the world.

In conclusion, while Tony Finau has seen challenges in his game recently, there remains hope for a rebound. With the right adjustments and recovery, he may still reclaim his status as a top competitor in professional golf.