Utah’s Finau wins golf’s Mexico Open

Tony Finau with his champions trophy at the Mexico Open on the PGA Tour. Photo: courtesy of the Tony Finau Foundation (Facebook).

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — Tony Finau, born and raised in Salt Lake City, won the PGA Tour’s Mexico Open on Sunday, beating defending champion John Rahm by three strokes.

Finau took his tee shot on 18, four shots ahead of playing partner John Rahm who was in second place. He proceeded to put that tee shot into the fairway bunker. Brandon Wu was tied for second with Rahm. Akshay Bhatia, the fourth in the final group, had the third-place position teeing off at 18.

Finau, who went to West High School, hit a brilliant third shot for a possible birdie. However, it slowed to a gimmie distance, which he marked, allowing 21-year-old Bhatia hit in before Finau tapped in for the win.

He ended up at 24 under, shooting a 66 on the 71 course.

He did the CBS TV interview on the green with his young daughter on his hip after hugging his wife and their four other children, who had made the journey south of the border and supported him all week.

Finau adds this one to his five previous career PGA Tour wins. “A major win,” which has as of yet eluded him, “must be on the horizon,” said the TV commentator, adding, “This is going to be huge for him.”

In the Fed Ex Cup standings, this brings Finau up into the number four position after this, his second win of the season.

Legendary golfer Lee Trevino, who has spent time in Park City, played golf at Park Meadows, visited the Utah Olympic Park, and supported athletes on the U.S. Ski Team, won this tournament two times in the 1970s.