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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah golfer Tony Finau will miss the PGA Tour’s latest event after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Rose Park native has been withdrawn from the Shriners Hospital for Children Open after the pretournament screening process revealed a positive diagnosis, the tour announced Tuesday afternoon.
"Earlier today, I received a positive result for COVID-19 under PGA Tour on-site testing protocols and have begun a period of self-quarantine to protect others around me," Finau said Tuesday in a statement confirming his positive test. "I am feeling well, and am otherwise in good spirits.
"I look forward to returning to action as soon as I am able, and I wish everyone at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open a great week ahead."
Finau last competed at the U.S. Open, where he finished tied for eighth. The 31-year-old West High product ranks 16th in the World Golf Rankings after a season that saw him finish 38th in the FedEx Cup and a scoring average of 67.414.
"Finau … will have the PGA Tour’s full support through his self-isolation period under CDC guidelines," a tour spokesperson said in a prepared statement.
PGA TOUR Statement on Tony Finau pic.twitter.com/JkySkt90RG
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) October 6, 2020
He earned $2.9 million in winnings during the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, with seven top-10 appearances and two finishes inside the top-three. Arguably the most successful Utah-born golfer on the PGA Tour in the modern era, Finau made 16 of 21 cuts in tournaments he played in 2020 and increased his career earnings to $20.29 million.
He's also come under fire recently, first for his play on the course and inability to win "the big one," leading some to consider Finau's lack of success as another example of the "Puerto Rico Open curse" and sparking Finau to make a change at caddy. He's also currently involved in a $16 million lawsuit by a former business partner Molonai Hola, launched Sept. 14 in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court.
He also has just one career PGA Tour victory, the Puerto Rico Open in 2016, while making the Ryder Cup team in 2018 and Presidents Cup in 2019.
First alternate Bronson Burgoon will replace Finau in the field for the Shriners Open, which will tee off Wednesday. The field also includes favorite and top-ranked Bryson DeChambeau, former Shriners champion Webb Simpson, and PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa, among others.
