Tony Finau Facts: 25 Things You Didn’t Know About The American Professional Golfer
Get to know six-time PGA Tour winner Tony Finau a little better with these facts about his life and career so far
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.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
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!
Tony Finau Bio
Full Name | Milton Pouha Finau |
Born | September 14, 1989 - Salt Lake City, Utah |
Height | 6ft4in (1.93m) |
Resides | Lehi, Utah |
Spouse | Alayna Galea |
Turned Pro | 2007 |
PGA Tour Wins | 6 |
Career-High World Ranking | 9th |
Current Tour(s) | PGA Tour, DP World Tour |
Former Tours | Gateway Tour, NGA Pro Golf Tour, National Pro Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Canada |
Caddie | Mark Urbanek |
Sponsors | Ping, Nike, Aptive Environmental, Qualtrics |
@tonyfinaugolf | |
@tonyfinaugolf |
Tony Finau Pro Wins
Event | Tour | Winning Score |
---|---|---|
2012 Hall of Fame Classic | National Pro Tour | -19 (three strokes) |
2012 Atlantic Open | National Pro Tour | -13 (four strokes) |
2014 Stonebrae Classic | Korn Ferry Tour | -22 (three strokes) |
2016 Puerto Rico Open | PGA Tour | -12 (playoff) |
2021 The Northern Trust | FedEx Cup Playoffs | -20 (playoff) |
2022 3M Open | PGA Tour | -17 (three strokes) |
2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic | PGA Tour | -26 (five strokes) |
2022 Houston Open | PGA Tour | -16 (four strokes) |
2023 Mexico Open | PGA Tour | -24 (three strokes) |
Sam is Golf Monthly's E-commerce Editor which mean's he oversees everything E-com related on the site.
This takes the form of creating and updating Buying Guides, reviews, and finding bargain prices for deals content.
Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes.
He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for, at a good price.
Additionally Sam oversees Golf Monthly voucher/coupon content which seeks to find you the best offers and promotions from well-known brands like Callaway, TaylorMade and many more.
Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a single-figure handicap.
- Elliott HeathNews Editor
- Jonny LeighfieldStaff Writer
-
I'll Never Fear These Diabolically Difficult Golf Shots Again Thanks To 4 Expert Tips
When you get a dodgy lie or an unlucky break around the green it can be easy to rack up a big number... but not if you utilise these four expert short-game tips
By Barry Plummer Published
-
How To Get Solheim Cup Tickets
Everything you need to know about how to purchase tickets for the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
What's The Most Money Earned In A Single PGA Tour Season?
Scottie Scheffler's 2023 and 2024 seasons are the most lucrative in PGA Tour history with a combined $50m won in official prize money
By Elliott Heath Published
-
PGA Tour Money List Leaders Through The Years
Some legendary names have topped the PGA Tour money list through the years, but the achievement hasn’t always proved as lucrative as today
By Mike Hall Published
-
Which Golfers Have The Most Top-10s In PGA Tour History?
Top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour are something to be savored, but a handful of players have achieved more than most
By Mike Hall Published
-
Every Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year Winner Since 1990
Five winners of the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year award have gone on to win Majors
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Every PGA Tour Rookie Of The Year Since 1990
The PGA Tour Rookie of the Year title, known as the Arnold Palmer Award, has been won by a number of the game's modern day greats since its inception in 1990
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Every PGA Tour Player Of The Year Winner Since 1990
The PGA Tour Player of the Year title, known as the Jack Nicklaus Award, has been handed out since 1990
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Who Is Jhonattan Vegas’ Caddie? Meet Ruben Yorio
Argentinian looper Ruben Yorio has caddied for Jhonattan Vegas for several years - here is what we know about him
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Who Is Brendon Todd’s Caddie? Meet JT Griffin
Brendon Todd's caddie is his good friend and fellow golf pro JT Griffin - here is what we know about him
By Joel Kulasingham Published