Tony Finau Bio
Milton Pouha “Tony” Finau (born September 14, 1989) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Recognized for his power off the tee and consistent play in major championships, Finau has built a reputation as one of the steady competitors of his generation. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Early Life and Background
Milton Pouha Finau was born on September 14, 1989, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended West High School, where he first gained attention as a promising young athlete. Although he received college scholarship offers in basketball, Finau ultimately chose to pursue golf as his primary sport.
He is of Tongan and Samoan descent, making him the first person of such ancestry to play on the PGA Tour. His brother, Gipper, made the cut at the Utah EnergySolutions Championship at the age of 16 but did not pursue a career as a tournament professional. Finau is also a cousin of NBA basketball player Jabari Parker and former NFL football player Haloti Ngata.
During his amateur career, Finau won the Utah State Amateur Championship in 2006, defeating future PGA Tour player Daniel Summerhays in the 36-hole championship match. That victory helped establish him as a serious young talent and set the stage for his professional transition.
Path to Professional Golf
Finau turned professional at the age of 17 in 2007 and began competing on mini-tours, including the Gateway Tour, the NGA Hooters Tour, and the National Pro Tour. In 2009, he and his brother Gipper appeared on Golf Channel’s The Big Break, with Finau finishing second at Big Break Disney Golf.
In 2013, Finau played on PGA Tour Canada, making seven cuts in eight starts. Later that year, he finished tied for third at the Web.com Tour qualifying school to earn his Web.com Tour card for 2014. He captured his first professional title in August 2014 at the Stonebrae Classic, finishing eighth in the regular season and 12th in the Web.com Tour Finals to secure his PGA Tour card for the 2014-15 season.
Tony Finau Career
Early Career (2007-2015)
Finau spent his early professional years developing his game on mini-tours and developmental circuits, gradually refining the power and accuracy that would later define his PGA Tour play. His breakthrough on the Web.com Tour in 2014, where he won the Stonebrae Classic, confirmed that he was ready for the top level of professional golf.
He earned his PGA Tour card and began competing against the world’s best players. The years that followed were a period of steady growth, as Finau adjusted to the demands of full-field PGA Tour events and learned to manage the pressure of high-stakes tournaments.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2016-2017)
In March 2016, Finau won his maiden PGA Tour title at the Puerto Rico Open, defeating Steve Marino in a sudden-death playoff with a birdie on the third extra hole. The victory moved him into the top 25 of the FedEx Cup standings and signaled his arrival as a PGA Tour winner.
He continued building momentum through 2017, qualifying for the Tour Championship and setting the stage for his first major championship appearances in 2018. Finau also chose to forgo defending his Puerto Rico title in 2017 to pursue a spot in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, narrowly missing entry.
Major Championships and Ryder Cup (2018-2019)
Finau qualified for the first three majors in 2018, including his first Masters appearance. He finished tied for 10th at the 2018 Masters despite dislocating his ankle in the Par-3 contest the day before the first round. In June 2018, he placed fifth at the U.S. Open after a double-bogey on the 18th hole, his highest major finish to that point. He closed the 2018 PGA Tour season ranked sixth in the FedEx Cup, earning more than $5,600,000 with 11 top-10 finishes.
U.S. team captain Jim Furyk selected Finau as a captain’s pick for the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in France. Although the U.S. team lost 17½ to 10½, Finau finished with a 2-1-0 record, highlighted by a 6-and-4 singles victory over Tommy Fleetwood. The following year, Finau was in the final group of the 2019 Masters Tournament alongside Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods, ultimately finishing tied for fifth.
Phoenix Open Run and Memorial Tournament (2019-2020)
Finau represented the U.S. team at the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, where the Americans won 16-14. In February 2020, he lost the Waste Management Phoenix Open in a sudden-death playoff to Webb Simpson despite holding a two-stroke lead with two holes to play.
Later that summer, Finau held a four-stroke lead at the Memorial Tournament before faltering on the back nine with two double bogeys, ultimately finishing tied for eighth. A week later, his tied-for-third finish at the 3M Open tied the PGA Tour record of 30 top-10 finishes in a four-year period without a win.
Northern Trust Victory and Ryder Cup (2021)
Early in 2021, Finau recorded five consecutive top-four finishes, including a playoff loss to Max Homa at the Genesis Invitational. He broke through in August 2021, winning the Northern Trust by defeating Cameron Smith in a playoff.
Finau played on the U.S. team at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, where the Americans won 19-9. He went 1-2-0 overall, including a Sunday singles loss to Ian Poulter.
Back-to-Back Wins and 2022-23 Season (2022-2023)
In July 2022, Finau won the 3M Open and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in successive weeks, marking his third and fourth PGA Tour victories. He also qualified for the U.S. team at the 2022 Presidents Cup, posting a 3-1-0 record.
In November 2022, he won the Cadence Bank Houston Open for his third PGA Tour victory of the calendar year. In April 2023, Finau added the Mexico Open, capturing his sixth career PGA Tour title.
Driving Style and Strengths
Finau is widely recognized for his exceptional power off the tee, ranking among the longest drivers on the PGA Tour. He combines that distance with a smooth, repeatable swing and a calm temperament, allowing him to compete consistently in major championships. His aggressive play off the tee is balanced by reliable iron play and steady work on and around the greens.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Finau’s most memorable moments came at the 2018 Masters, where he dislocated his ankle during the Par-3 contest and still finished tied for 10th. He has represented the United States in three Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, establishing himself as a trusted team player. In 2022 and 2023, he won four PGA Tour events in approximately one year, cementing his status as a consistent winner at the highest level.
Tony Finau Career Wins
Tony Finau has accumulated nine professional wins, including six on the PGA Tour. His victories span developmental circuits, the Web.com Tour, the PGA Tour, and international competition, reflecting a steady rise through every level of professional golf.
PGA Tour Highlights
Finau’s first PGA Tour victory came at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open, won in a playoff over Steve Marino. He added wins at the 2021 Northern Trust, the 2022 3M Open, the 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic, the 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open, and the 2023 Mexico Open. In addition to his six victories, he has recorded numerous runner-up finishes, including playoff losses at the WGC-HSBC Champions, Waste Management Phoenix Open, and Genesis Invitational.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the PGA Tour, Finau won twice on the National Pro Tour and captured the 2014 Stonebrae Classic on the Web.com Tour. He also recorded a runner-up finish at the 2019 Saudi International on the European Tour.
Tony Finau Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Finau comes from a close-knit athletic family of Tongan and Samoan heritage. His brother Gipper also played competitive golf and appeared alongside Tony on Golf Channel’s The Big Break in 2009. Finau is a cousin of NBA player Jabari Parker and former NFL player Haloti Ngata, underscoring the family’s deep ties to professional sports.
Personal Life
Tony Finau is married to Alayna Galea’i Finau, and the couple has six children. The family resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Finau is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and runs the Tony Finau Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering youth and their families in the local community. He also appeared in the Netflix sports documentary series Full Swing, which premiered on February 15, 2023.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 PGA Tour season, Tony Finau continues to compete at the highest level, building on six career PGA Tour victories. His combination of elite distance off the tee and major-championship experience positions him as a regular threat in the biggest events of the year.
Finau’s consistent record of top finishes, including his six PGA Tour wins and numerous runner-up performances, suggests he will remain a fixture in the FedEx Cup race. His ability to perform under pressure in team events, demonstrated across multiple Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, also makes him a likely candidate for future U.S. team selections.
With his family based in Scottsdale and his game in a steady, mature phase of his career, Finau enters 2025 aiming to add to his major-championship resume and contend for additional titles on the PGA Tour.