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NAPA, Calif. — Tony Finau’s late fall PGA Tour breakthrough will have to wait.
Finau made a stunning rise up the leaderboard Sunday through the final round of the Safeway Open, but a 3-under-par 69 was just two shots short of winning the second-ever event of his pro career.
Brendan Steele, who also carded a final-round 69 to shoot in the 60s on three of the four days of the tournament, carded a four-day total of 15-under 273 to finish two shots ahead of Finau. Phil Mickelson and Chesson Hadley were one shot back of the Lehi resident at 12-under 276.
“I gave myself a good chance there,” Finau said after his round. “I played some good golf this week, and honestly, I’m happy with the way I hung in there. I didn’t feel great over the ball; I didn’t hit a lot of quality shots off the tee that I needed.
“But to put myself in a situation for a win was pretty cool. There are positives to take away from this.”
Finau had some work to do, but started the day with a blistering front nine. He opened with an eagle on the par-5, 538-yard fifth hole and added a birdie on the par-5 ninth to make the turn at 3-under.
Then he hit a little hiccup.
After a birdie on the par-4 No. 13, Finau carded a double bogey on the par-4 14th hole to slip back into the pack.
He pulled a shot back at No. 18 to finish within a shot of Steele. But the 34-year-old Steele birdied two of his final three holes to wrap up his second career victory on tour.
Finau was looking for the second PGA Tour victory of his career, and the first since winning the Puerto Rico Open in 2016. He has already earned an exemption in the PGA Tour's four majors in 2018.
