DETROIT – Tony Finau has changed the conversation about him in less than a year.
The 32-year-old American ran away with the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday at Detroit Golf Club to become the first player in three years to win consecutive PGA Tour events in the regular season. He closed with a 5-under-par 67 for a five-shot victory and a tournament-record 26-under 262 total in the 72-hole event.
It was his fourth career victory and third title in 11-plus months. Finau began his stretch of success last August at the Northern Trust, where he had his first victory in five years and 142 PGA Tour starts.
“I’m proud of the way I’ve fought through adversity in my career,” said Finau, a Salt Lake City native with Tongan-Samoan heritage. “They say a winner is just a loser who kept trying, and that’s me.”
Finau ended a drought in Detroit, winning for the first time in six attempts when he had or shared the 54-hole lead in a PGA Tour event. And he did it easily.