Tony Finau posted his third top-10 finish of the year in a major tournament, tying for ninth place in the British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland.
Finau produced the best performance in the tournament by a Utah native since George Von Elm, another West High School alumnus, tied for third as an amateur in 1926. In this century, Mike Weir's tie for eighth in 2007 is the top showing for a current resident of Utah. Weir tied for ninth in '04.
Playing in the most difficult conditions of the week, Finau made one birdie and one bogey Sunday to shoot an even-par 71 for the third day in a row. He finished at 4 under for the tournament and moved up from a tie for 13th entering the final round.
The Lehi resident tied for 10th in the Masters and placed fifth in the U.S. Open. He’s the only player to finish in the top 10 in all three of the 2018 majors to date.
“I’m learning and growing,” Finau tweeted.
He'll go into next month's PGA Championship in St. Louis with an opportunity to join Weir as the only Utahns to make the 36-hole cut in all four majors in one season. In 2003, Weir had three top-10 finishes (including a Masters victory) and tied for 28th in the British Open.
With another consistent effort, Finau improved his credentials for Ryder Cup selection, after U.S. captain Jim Furyk recently invited him to play practice rounds in Paris. Finau remains outside of the top eight for automatic qualification for the American team, but Furyk will make four other selections in September.
Finau is committed to play in this week’s RBC Canadian Open on the PGA Tour.
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