Can Tony Finau prevail in the championship open to the Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland this week?
Of course, he can, but he will have to do something that he could not accomplish this season, win. And he will have to play better than in the events where he has admirably contributed, but failed.
He will need a big elite shot tournament and he will have to find magic with his putter game and his corner.
All this, after having taken time to rest and give a little love to a new addition to the family.
“I think that with the new five -month -old baby, Tony focused only on signature events and majors,” said Bobby Casper, golf radio host.
“He came to Ireland early so that he could spend a few days preparing for the British Open. The idea was to help in practice, to familiarize yourself with the course and the change of time.
“I saw him at the beginning of last week and he looked in a good mood and said he was playing well. It should be a good course for him this week.”
The favorites are Scottie Scheffler n ° 1 in the world, the favorite of the northern city of Northern Ireland, Rory McILroy, who makes a great effort at the Open Scottish last week, and the Liv star, Jon Rahm, former champion.
The other best choices for Digest’s golf staff and Oddsmakers are Ludvig Aberg, Bryson Dechambeau, Xander Schauffele and British palisages Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton.
Finau finished third in the Open British at the Royal Portrush in 2019, and was the American bottom behind the Lowry winner (17 sous) and the second Fleetwood finisher (9 sous) with its finish of 7 sous.
In an interview with The Golf Channel last spring, Finau said he always had what it took to win a major and see his name high on the list of elite players. Speaking before Houston’s opening, Finau said: “I think I just scratched the surface of what I can accomplish in the game.”
In 2019 in Royal Portrush, it was his best performance in an adult until this moment of his career. He was the only player of the last 10 groups to match the peer on Sunday on the Dunluce course.
Portrush is known for its difficult landscape which is affected by the weather, especially the blowing winds. You can play three holes with the same direction of the wind, then face a completely different direction of the wind on the following three holes. Then, three other holes are located where you can face a completely different direction of the wind.
These changing conditions force players to adapt and show creativity with their shots. The 16th 330 yards by 3 16th, which presents a deep ravine on the right side of the green, is called Calamity Corner, and by is a coveted score.
This is a course where players can become Berserk. The desire to throw a club is understood.
After the 2019 effort, Finau was delighted with his performance, where Lowry and McILroy champion know the arrangement by heart. His third place was a highlight in career.
“I played in more difficult conditions, but I did not play better than today under these conditions,” said Finau in Golfweek. He said that the conditions in Portrush were the fourth worst he had faced in his career.
He described to journalists what it took on his second in the last round in Portrush.
“The second blow on 11 Saturday, I struck a perfect disc when it was raining and blowing on the side. I had 206 before and 228 hole, so I released my iron 2, crying on laterally and blowing 30 (MPH) from the left and I tried to hit a connection in the course of execution there.”
Finau has thought about it: “I love golf ties. I would like to be able to play it more often. It takes so much creativity. ”
Finau will need everything he has this week with the bad weather. Most experts say that the layout takes not only skills and imagination, but a player with a good attitude that is not discouraged and does not discourage – because bad shots are on the menu.
During his career, Finau had a lot of adversity, lacking short putts when he is in the running and slipping on the last round of play. But his attitude has always had a behavior that is easy to live, a relaxed attitude.
He will need a lot of that in Northern Ireland, that and his rain jacket.
