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ATLANTA — Tony Finau’s run at the PGA Tour Championship didn’t get off to a hot start Thursday.
But his finish will keep him in the hunt.
After shooting 1-over on the first five holes, Finau rallied for four birdies the rest of the way to finish tied for fifth with a 3-under-par 67 on the first day of the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler share the lead at 5-under 65 at the tournament that features the top-30 players in the FedEx Cup standings. Gary Woodland and Justin Rose are just one shot back, followed by a group that includes Finau, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.
"I hadn't played this tournament in five years, and some of the people said they haven't been out here in five years," Woods told the Associated Press. "That's kind of nice that they're coming out and supporting this event and supporting me, as well."
Finau had back-to-back bogeys on the par-4 fourth and fifth holes early. But after the early struggles, he birdied three of the final four holes to make the turn at 2-under 33. The West High graduate played bogey-free through the back-nine, and a birdie on the par-4, 430-yard 17th gave him a top-five finish in the first round of the final event of the FedEx Cup.
Finau will be the first-ever native Utahn to represent the United States in the international Ryder’s Cup competition next month. He’s currently ranked third in the FedEx Cup standings as the No. 16 golfer in the world, according to the World Golf Rankings.
The top-five finishers in the FedEx Cup earn a $10 million bonus check.
Finau will tee off Friday at 11:30 a.m. MDT with playing partner Paul Casey. Woods and Fowler will be the final pairing Friday, teeing off at noon MDT.
