20 Things You Didn’t Know About Tony Finau

Tony Finau finally ended his five-and-a-half year winning drought in August 2021 at The Northern Trust and he has gone on to win three more times since then to take his PGA Tour trophy tally to five.

The long-hitting American is one of the most gifted players in the game and one of the most likeable, too. 

Get to know him better with these 20 facts...

1. Of Tongan and Samoan descent, Finau was born in Salt Lake City in Utah.

2. His real name is Milton Pouha Finau.

3. He is married to Alayna Galea’i-Finau and they have four children together called Jraice, Leilene Aiaga, Tony, and Sage.

4. His first PGA Tour win to date 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.

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 best result in a Major championship came at Royal Portrush in 2019, where he finished 3rd in the Open Championship.

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.

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 $33m on the PGA Tour.