Extending a theme of the most recent Masters in April 2019, when he accompanied Tiger Woods in the final round of a victory, Tony Finau is playing the first two rounds at Augusta National Golf Club with Paul Casey, who’s the leader with a 65.
Patrick Reed (68), the group’s other member, also topped Finau’s 69 that came via five birdies, four bogeys and an eagle. Finau, who holed a bunker shot on the par-5 No. 15, retweeted a highlight of that shot with “beach” and “eagle” emojis.
Finau, a West High School graduate and part-time Lehi resident, is tied for 13th place. Among his goals this week is finishing in the top 10 of a fourth consecutive major tournament. Sandy resident Mike Weir, the 2003 champion, began his 21st Masters appearance with a 71 and is tied for 34th. He’s in position to make the 36-hole cut (the low 50 players plus ties will advance) for the first time since 2014.
The cut likely will come Saturday, because Thursday’s play was delayed by rain for nearly 3 hours. About half of the field will complete the first round Friday morning; Finau and Weir won’t tee off until mid-afternoon in Georgia.
Starting the first round on the back nine, Finau bogeyed Nos. 11 and 12, before two-putting for a birdie on the par-5 No. 13. After his eagle on No. 15, he posted a bogey on No. 16 and a birdie on No. 17 to make the turn in 1 under.
Finau failed to birdie the par-5 No. 12 after a 370-yard drive, although he still played Augusta National’s four par-5s in a total of 4 under par. He made a short birdie putt on the par-4 No. 3, then bogeyed the par-4 No. 7 after driving into the left rough. Finau two-putted for a birdie on the par-5 No. 8 and finished with another short birdie putt on No. 9.
The 50-year-old Weir, who has sharpened his game in 2020 as a PGA Tour Champions rookie, started on the front nine. He birdied Nos. 6 and 7 before lipping out a birdie attempt on No. 8. He bogeyed Nos. 9 and 17, while adding another birdie on No. 13.