Tony Finau wins 1st PGA Tour event in 3-hole Puerto Rico playoff
Tony Finau is a winner on the PGA Tour.
The 2015 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year runner-up got his maiden Tour title on Sunday, defeating Steve Marino on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach (formerly Trump International Golf Club Puerto Rico).
Marino and Finau were tied at 12-under 276, one clear of 54-hole leader Ian Poulter and Mexico’s Rodolfo Cazaubon. The duo would play the par-5 finishing hole at Coco Beach over and over until a winner was crowned.
On the first playoff hole, both players had lousy drives but managed to have decent third shots into the green. First, Marino hit a sand shot from about 40 yards to approximately 8 feet. Finau, in the neck in front of the green, chipped up to just a few feet for certain birdie. Marino quickly stepped up and drained his birdie.
The pair again tied in birdie the second time around, again with Marino making the birdie first.
On the third try, Marino and Finau went long of the green on the severely downwind hole with their second shots. Marino found the fringe, while Finau was in the back left bunker. Finau hit an excellent bunker shot to about 3 feet, giving Marino an eagle putt for the win. However, the University of Virginia product poorly judged the speed of the putt, leaving 5 feet for birdie. Marino powered that putt through the break. Finau made his putt for birdie and the win.
“I think I’m still a little bit overwhelmed,” Finau said. “It probably hasn’t all sunk in.”
Also searching for his first win and a complete comeback after losing his PGA Tour card, Marino was disappointed with the finish.
“I finally played the hole like you’re supposed to,” Marino said. “I hit the fairway and then hit it on the back fringe. I didn’t think that putt was going to be that slow and then I just hit a poor putt on the second putt. Pretty disappointing, played really well.”
For the Utah native Finau, he had a chance to win in regulation, missing a 6-foot birdie putt. Whereas a season ago, that may have fazed him, Finau knew he was still in it after Marino birdied the 72nd hole ahead of him to tie.
“You’ve got to focus on the here and now. I did a really good job of that today even though that putt slipped by in regulation for the win, I knew I still didn’t lose the tournament,” Finau said. “I needed to refocus and get ready to play 18 again. That’s what it takes out here I feel like to win.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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