Finau Buries Ryder Cup Blues Again Finding Fondness For Carnoustie

Carnoustie, Scotland ….

Three months after his delight shooting an opening day 67 and on route to an eventual share of ninth in golf’s oldest major, Tony Finau returned to Carnoustie to be just as delighted in posting 66 to be inside the top-15 after two rounds of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The American, and coming off last week’s Ryder Cup disappointment, grabbed eight birdies and with only bogey at the par-3 16th on last July’s 147th Open Championship host venue

Finau is competing in the ‘celebration of links’ event for a first occasion.

Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com

“It’s good. It’s tough. I think it’s a ballstrikers course and I definitely consider myself a good ball-striker. It was nice to see some putts go in early and keep that momentum,” said the Utah-based Finau.

“It was also nice that No. 12 is a par 5 this week, because it was a par 4 in The Open. Par is par. It doesn’t really matter, but you know, it’s cool when you make a 4 on that hole and it’s actually a birdie, not a par.

“So, I played really nicely today. Put myself into contention going into the weekend.

“It’s also my first time playing the event and they’re great golf courses. You’ve got to golf your ball. I like the creativity that links brings. A lot different than the golf  I’m used to back in the States. But you know, it’s fun to be here at the Home of Golf.

“I look forward to the last two rounds at St. Andrews. Should be a fun weekend.”

And after the ‘high’ of being a ‘wildcard’ pick for the USA Ryder Cup team, the current World No. 17 Finau was pleased to get back the normal competition, and this after equitting himself well last week in Versailles.

In fact, Finau and Brooks Koepka won the very first point for the USA in the opening match of competiton on Thursday and while Finau and Koepka lost the next morning to Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, Finau handed out the biggest defeat all week in humbling European rival, Tommy Fleetwood 6 & 4 in their Sunday Singles encounter.

“Playing this event for sure gets over the Ryder Cup blues and it’s perfect atmosphere for kind of the post-Ryder Cup,” he said.

“I really enjoyed myself with a amateur partner, Ryan Smith. We are good friends and we’re having a good time out there on the golf course.

“You know, playing these golf courses in this type of tournament atmosphere, I don’t know if it gets much better, so it’s pretty fun”.



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