As Tony Finau's golf ball sailed toward the water on the right side of 16th green Friday, this was the Utahn's thought: “Get lucky, somehow.”
In a snapshot, that successful wish captured the entire morning session of the Ryder Cup’s opening day. Finau’s favorable bounce off a wooden bulkhead led to a tying birdie from 4 feet. And when the European team of Justin Rose and Jon Rahm struggled on No. 18, Finau and partner Brooks Koepka earned a 1-up victory — after never leading in the fourball match.
The win helped the Americans take a 3-1 lead after the morning rounds at Le Golf National in Paris. But then Europe won all four afternoon matches, moving ahead 5-3.
As expected, Finau was not in U.S. captain Jim Furyk’s lineup for the foursomes (alternate shot) matches. Finau and Koepka will be paired together again Saturday morning, facing Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia. Finau and McIlroy became acquainted when McIlroy spent a childhood summer in Utah and they later competed in the 2004 Junior Ryder Cup. Another round of foursomes matches will follow in the afternoon, then all 12 players from each side will play in Sunday’s singles matches.
Finau, a West High School graduate who lives in Lehi, won't forget Friday's experience, regardless of what happens the rest of the weekend. Koepka acknowledged his teammate's good fortune on No. 16, “but to come out in his first Ryder Cup and play the way he did, I'm proud of him and glad to have him as my teammate.”
Finau chipped in for an eagle on the par-4 No. 6 to tie the match, but the Europeans were 2 up through 12. Koepka, the two-time U.S. Open champion, birdied No. 13 (he also had birdied No. 11) to trim the margin, then Finau got what he labeled “a huge break” on No. 16.
The fans in France were not amused, booing Finau as he approached the green. The rude greeting didn’t keep him from making the birdie putt, though. His par on No. 17 maintained the tie, then he and Koepka each hit the green in regulation on No. 18. Rose found the water on his second shot; Rahm missed the green with his approach and his 20-foot par putt failed to drop.
The win gave the American team one point that “feels like two,” Koepka said, considering the comeback it required.
“Brooks played some incredible golf in the middle of the back nine,” Finau said, “and I needed him to.”
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