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Southport, England • Utahn Tony Finau finished off his second British Open on Sunday with a 1-over par 71 on a sunny and rainy day — typical British weather — at Royal Birkdale.
The week included many fun memories for the 27-year-old, including playing a practice round with alternate James Hahn on Wednesday. As Hahn played with Finau he received a phone call from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) — the organization that runs this event.
It was the news he'd hoped to hear after flying all the way across the pond on spec that he'd possibly make the field. This call confirmed that he did.
Finau was happy to share in the joy eminent on Hahn's face after the call.
Minutes later the two were joined by veteran Kevin Na. Na would merely make a hole-in-one on the 13th and the trio celebrated enthusiastically. Golf Channel and NBC gladly showed the replay throughout their week's coverage.
Finau entered Sunday's final round at even par, and 11 shots behind Jordan Spieth's lead. The Utahn finished at 1-over 271, in a 10-way tie for 27th place.
Though he didn't make a birdie on Sunday, the third-year pro did show consistency with 12 opening pars, 17 total, and only one bogey.
"I played really nicely, I felt really good out there and I was looking to birdie 15 and 17," Finau said of his day and those closing par 5's.
Many top golfers revere this course at Royal Birkdale and the consensus is that it provides 14 tough holes and then four gettable ones to finish.
"I did what I was supposed to do the first 14 holes, gave myself some chances but couldn't really get a birdie to go," Finau said. "I knew going into 15 and 17 that I would have a look and I did, I just wasn't able to convert."
Golf is like that sometimes and Finau is well aware that in two showings in golf's oldest championship, he can't be unhappy with two finishes inside the top 30. He tied for 18th last year.
Perhaps some of his success goes back to his love for links golf and the creativity it demands.
"Links golf is a lot of strategy," Finau said. "There are so many more bunkers here and we're hitting over them or short of them. You can use your creativity to hit a lot of different shots."
Finau has positive takeaways from this week and looks forward to future Opens both here in England and in Scotland.
"I think overall this was another very successful Open for me and hopefully one of many more," Finau said.
Twitter @johnstongarrett