Tony Finau left Carnoustie Golf Links late Friday evening wondering what might have been.
But the Salt Lake City native will return to the British Open for more golf on Saturday, having safely made the cut in another major championship. Thanks to a balky putter, Finau missed out on several early opportunities for birdies that would have made Friday’s round much more memorable.
Having briefly moved into a tie for the lead with birdies on Nos. 12 and 14, the Lehi resident made bogeys on two of his final three holes and settled for an even-par 71 to remain 4-under through 36 holes.
Finau is tied for sixth place, two shots behind the leaders, Americans Zach Johnson and Kevin Kisner. He’s zeroing in on another top-10 finish at a major, having placed fifth at last month’s U.S. Open and 10th at the Masters.
Finau entered the day in a three-way tie for second after shooting a 67 on Thursday. He birdied the second hole Friday and strung together seven straight pars to make the turn at 1-under, then had a much more adventurous back nine.
Playing in one of the last groups of the day, having started his round at 8:32 a.m. MDT, Finau missed the green on No. 15 and couldn’t get up and down for par.
On 18, Finau’s tee shot landed in a fairway bunker, which forced him to lay up short of the green. His approach shot was within 12 feet of the hole, but he left his par putt an inch short.
That was one of about a half-dozen putts that Finau just missed on a day in which playing conditions were more favorable later due to morning rain showers. The long hitter birdied just one of the two par-5s, after making birdies on both on Thursday.
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