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 [February 21, 2024]
Tony Finau finished the 2023 season with a flourish and has
started the 2024 campaign on the right foot as well.
Finau looks to successfully defend his title at The Mexico Open at
Villarta starting Thursday when he tees off at the par-71 Vidanta
Vallarta. He won his sixth career PGA Tour title by defeating World
No. 3 Jon Rahm of Spain by three strokes in 2023, one year after
finishing in a tie for second at the tournament.
The 34-year-old Finau hasn't missed a cut in five starts this
season. He finished T-6 at the Farmers Insurance Open on Jan. 24-27
and T-19 at the Genesis Invitational last week.
The run started at the close of last season. After not finishing
higher than T-32 in a stretch of six tournaments starting with the
PGA Championship in May, Finau closed the 2022-23 season with three
top-10 finishes over his last six events and a T-20 at the Tour
Championship.
"Yeah, I feel prepared. I've done some good work in the offseason
with my body just to be strong," Finau said Tuesday. "This golf
course yields some birdies and I can really swing the driver with
some freedom out here as there's a few holes that are pretty lenient
as far as hitting areas, so I love that, being able to hit it hard
and play this type of golf course. I do feel like I'm prime to go on
a run starting this week."
Finau expects to be a busy man, however. He told reporters Tuesday
that he will be playing competitive golf during the day and with his
family on the par-3 course at night.
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"I think we reserved a tee time there about 8:00
every night and we'll be there with my boys playing pretty much
every evening," Finau said. "That's definitely at the top of our
list of things we enjoy here at Vidanta."
Finau, however, isn't mixing up his priorities.
"Yeah, there's definitely different feelings coming back to a golf
course that you've had success," the six-time winner on the PGA Tour
said. "I would say more obligations than anything else. Once you get
on the golf course, you know it's a course that you've had success
and you've won before so you definitely have that sense of
confidence I think walking around a place that you've won before.
Hopefully that's the case this week.
"This golf course is high on my list as far as courses that look
good to me and that I like, so I'll be looking to definitely get
after it again this week and try and defend this title."
--Field Level Media
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