Tony Finau parted ways last week with longtime caddie Greg Bodine and put swing coach Boyd Summerhays on the bag for the 3M.
New caddie, same result.
Finau couldn’t perform when the tournament was on the line late Sunday.
Tony was in the thick of it with a couple of front-nine birdies but the back nine produced the same old tune. He didn’t birdie the par five 12th, a sloppy bunker shot at the 13th led to a bogey. He missed a birdie attempt from nine feet at 15 then drove in the thick left rough at the reachable par four 16th. His second left him 43 feet away and he made par where the rest of the contenders were making birdies.
A really poor drive on the final hole found some deep rough. He was forced to layup but stuck his third close to close with birdie and put himself in a nine-way tie for third at 16-under.
The Puerto Rico jinx is still in full force — no player who has won the Puerto Rico Open has won again on the PGA Tour.
“I had some great looks down the stretch. I didn’t make the putts I needed to,” Finau said after yet another futile Sunday afternoon. “You’ve got to make those putts to win the tournament and I wasn’t able to do it today. But my game’s in a great place with three majors right around the corner, and that’s pretty exciting for me.”
This was the first and only tournament for Summerhays as Finau’s caddie. He’ll now turn to brother Gipper to handle the caddie duties.
“I think I’ll go with somebody I’m comfortable with for the next couple weeks and maybe try somebody starting with the playoffs, but somebody close to me,” Finau said. “I’ll have my brother out the next couple weeks and I’ll make a decision after the PGA.”
Max McGreevy Takes Price Cutter Championship:
Former University of Oklahoma golfer Max McGreevy took a big step in his career Sunday at the Price Cutter Charity Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour.
McGreevy sizzled with a closing 64 and posted 21-under par. But he had to wait to see if his total would hold up..
McGreevy camped out near the 18th green at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield, Missouri, waiting to see if his 21-under would stand.
When the final threesome arrived at 18 fairway, only Chad Ramey and Jose de Jesus Rodriguez had a chance to tie McGreevy but each needed to hole out for eagle to force a playoff.
When neither player made three, McGreevy started celebrating. Turns out that came too soon. Rodriguez was actually at 20 under and could tie McGreevy if he sank a 30-footer for birdie.
“I probably looked a little silly,” McGreevy said afterward. “Luckily, it worked out in my favor.”
Rodriguez missed and McGreevy captured his first Korn Ferry Tour title by a shot.
“I’ve never won a four-round event before,” said McGreevy, who opened the week in 64 before entering Sunday five shots back. “To be able to put something together on the final day means a lot to me.”
6 Comments
baxter cepeda
Hmm first I hear of this Puerto Rico curse. Maybe that’s it.
More realistically, Finau just needs to man up.
Boyd was a step in the right direction but I’m not sure ‘strawberries and cream’ was ever the hardened caddie tony needs for the job.
We will get to learn more about where Gippers career is at. And It’s very possible bro can help correct what Tony’s missing on Sunday.
Some say it’s putting. Others driving under pressure. Some short game shots are suspect. It’s a bunch of little things, really. The kinds that come up under pressure. And the kind you are glad to have your brother to remind you to man up.
Tom Edrington
Baxter, it’s pretty tough to abandon the guy who got you to become a winner of nearly $20 million in career earnings; No experienced guys available right now; There so much involved with being a great caddie; But what I noticed is that Tony didn’t birdie the first par five on the back then couldn’t make a nine-footer when he needed it and couldn’t birdie the par 4 that he can get at with three-wood; He’s simply not performing down the stretch, simple as that, he ranked 171st on tour in final round scoring…..that’s pretty darn glaring if you ask me….
baxter cepeda
Yes. I appreciate your caddie appreciation. But that guy had his chance with Tony. Boyd will tell you himself he is no pro caddie but he really did as good or better job in one try.
There are good caddies out there. I have wondered for years why not use Gipper.
It was time. He will find someone good. Maybe he and Gipper get it done.
Tony is an atm machine regardless of whom is caddying. But he needs to win and it’s not like he has been. So It’s worth a try.
It can only get better.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: Maybe Tony has made too much money…way back when, he didn’t know how many zeros were in 20 million, take his tour earnings, endorsement money and he’s probably well past 25 million…..is he HUNGRY??? We used to say, Poor Driven and Hungry are a great success combination…..He got rid of the “poor” portion and that affects the other two….
baxter cepeda
I generally totally agree with those recipes.
But I think tony is at the point of no money is gonna be satisfactory. He is very hungry for a win. You can see it.
This it winning issue hurts him. If anything Finau is at the point where he really wants, even needs that validation win a little too much for his own good.
I don’t know why but I really think Gipper will help calm that in the next couple of weeks.
Tom Edrington
Remains to be seen…..