Tony Finau stands out amongst professional golfers. It's not just due to his skill, smile, or ethnicity. He's just so damn tall! He looks like he'd be more comfortable on an NBA court than on the putting green. And yet, Finau has become a regular on the PGA's carpet verde, becoming a hero to all Polynesian athletes.
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He hopes to win his first Green Jacket in the next few years, but for now, he's showing the world his off-the-course life on Netflix's new docu-series, "Full Swing." It would be the first Masters' trophy ever given to someone like Finau. The Tongan-Samoan-Mormon-American is a multi-hyphenated superstar.
Regardless of what happens this weekend at Augusta, Finau is already introducing the old game of golf to a new generation of fans. It looks like he learned something from Tiger in 2019, after all.
Milton Pouha Finau (Tony's birth name) was born on September 14, 1989, on the same day as NBA player Jimmy Butler. Tony Finau's cousin Jabari Parker would later play with Butler for Team USA.
Tony Finau watched Tiger Woods become red hot at the 1997 Masters. His life was forever changed.
Tony the Teenager was so good at golf that his high school built their first golf team around him and then won state. He seemed destined to score birdies for BYU before someone offered the teen loads of cash to play professional golf.
Finau has made a living on the links since 2007, but it took him nine years to win a PGA tournament. Even though his 2016 victory remains his biggest PGA feat, Finau has been putting down scorecards low enough to limbo for years.
Tony Finau has won only one tournament since turning pro. He defeated Steve Marino (no relation to Dolphin Dan) in the 2016 Puerto Rico Open.
Tony the Golfer has swung well at the US Open, Ryder Cup, Web.com Stonebrae Classic, Tour Championship, PGA Championship, and FedEx Cup. He hasn't won them all, but he has performed well enough to keep golf as his day job. One near-victory in 2019 stands out above the rest as a bittersweet defeat.
Tony Meets Tiger
Finau was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round of the 2019 Masters. The golfers had a classic duel that pushed Woods to return to his old form, dominance, and tailor. Even though Finau lost, he looks back on that Sunday fondly. Even if he should have technically been at church.
Who is Tony Finau's Wife, Alayna?
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Golfer Tony Finau's wife Alayna Galea'i-Finau is a mother of four and partner to one. The family keeps a tight lid on their origin story.
Given that Alayna and Tony are both members of the Mormon faith, we can assume they had a traditional religious wedding. They used to live in their hometown of Salt Lake City but moved to Arizona in recent years. You know what they say about Arizona - plenty of space to raise big families.
Family Life
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Tony Finau has a big golf swing and a large family to match. Tony's wife Alayna Finau gave birth to four children: Jraice, Leilene Aiaga, Tony Jr., and Sage Finau.
All four children plus Alayna were with Finau when he hit his hole-in-one during the Masters par-3 contest. They were also there when he dislocated his ankle celebrating immediately after, but the hole-in-one is more impressive.
But that's not even the Finau count. Tony's large family stretches to his parents and siblings. His mother Ravena (Vena) Finau, who was Tongan, tragically passed too soon. His father Kelepi Finau saved money as a baggage handler so Young Tony could get his first clubs.
Tony is one of six children. His younger brother Gipper Finau was considered a golf phenom before Tony took to the green. Gipper is an Utah State Amateur and spends time on the PGA Tour as Tony's caddie.
The Finau family, like many people in Utah, are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as Mormons. His religious beliefs inform his family life, work ethic, and philanthropic efforts. The Tony Finau Foundation aims to support families and children through the power of golf. Finau has amassed an estimated net worth of $10 million from golf tournaments and sponsorships.
Finau's Bright Future
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Tongan-Samoan-American professional golfer Tony Finau has not seen the same amount of success as his idol Tiger Woods has on a golf course. However, if 2022 is any indication, we may see Finau climbing the leaderboards and breaking into the top golf rankings. Following wins at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club and the 3M Open, Finau's trending in the right direction.
He may not be a social media star, but Tony Finau is a name to watch in future tournaments.
