"One of my closest guys on tour": Tony Finau reveals which LIV golfer he misses the most
Tony Finau, often known as Big Tone, has displayed a firm commitment to the PGA Tour and no amount of money could convince him to join LIV Golf.
During the WM Phoenix Open, TMZ Sports met up with Finau in Arizona and asked him if he still gets along with his teammates who switched to the Saudi-funded league. He went on to explain that Brooks Koepka is someone he misses dearly.
"One of my closest guys on tour."
Finau added that he misses other international golfers as well.
"A lot of the international guys I miss, Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer."
Tony Finau claimed that it had been close to a year since he last saw most of them.
However, Finau does not harbor resentment towards his former tour teammates who switched to LIV.
Finau, who has earned over $34 million in prize money on the PGA Tour, may miss his friends, but he made it clear last summer as to why he won't be joining them.
Finau refused the money when LIV Golf first began last year, unlike Koepka, who has hit a rough patch since then.
Brooks Koepka's 2021 Phoenix Open triumph was his last title on the tour, and it was commemorated this past weekend. The majors comprise his final four tour stops. He twice came in 55th and missed the cut twice. This comes from a man who, when competing on the grandest stages, was once the most feared golfer in the world and a four-time major champion.
Koepka, who joined LIV last summer, has just one victory to his credit, having fallen to No. 78 in the World Golf Rankings, his lowest position in more than 8 and a half years.
After two shaky starts on the Asian Tour, Palm Beach County-born Koepka will begin the LIV season the following week in Mayakoba, Mexico. He missed the cut in the International Series last weekend and tied for 46th place at the PIF Saudi International.
Tony Finau's Career
Finau became a professional in 2007 at the age of 17, following a stellar amateur career in which he defeated future PGA Player Daniel Summerhays in the 36-hole final match.
He began his playing career on mini-tours including the National Pro Tour and the Gateway Tour. The Scottsdale resident placed second at Big Break Disney Golf in 2009 along with his brother Gipper Finau.
He participated in the PGA Tour Canada in 2013 and had seven cutouts in eight starts. He placed third in the Web.com Tour qualifying school the following year.
In August 2014, the 33 year-old triumphed in his maiden professional competition at the Stonebrae Classic.
Finau's performance in recent times
Tony Finau, who is ranked No. 13 in the world, has made 12 starts and has three victories and eight top-10 results. He placed 14th last weekend at the Phoenix Open.
He joined Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and Justin Thomas as one of five players since 1980 with consecutive triumphs by at least three strokes on the tour. He also clinched a victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and 3M Open.