Tony Finau was expected to compete at Detroit Golf Club as a past champion this week, but the seven-time PGA Tour winner has been forced to pull out of the Rocket Classic
Tony Finau will not play the Rocket Classic(Image: Getty Images)
Tony Finau has announced he will not be competing in the Rocket Classic this week, as the PGA Tour makes a return to Detroit Golf Club.
Finau was one of the big names in the field at the Rocket Classic, which also includes former LIV Golf member James Piot, who has been welcomed back to the PGA Tour via a sponsor exemption. Earlier this week, though, Finau confirmed he was unable to tee it up.
Taking to social media, the former champion wrote: “Hey Detroit, you know I love the 313 and being champ of the community’s classic! This tournament and this community mean a lot to me so I’m bummed to share that I won’t be competing this week due to some needed rest and recovery.
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“I know you will have a blast this week and I hope to be back in the 313 in the years to come!
“All my best to everyone competing this week and to all involved in this great tournament.”
It is no doubt a blow for the tournament and Finau, with the 35-year-old one of the most popular names on this week’s entry list in Detroit.
Finau also confirmed that he would not return to the golf course until the final major of the season, next month’s Open Championship. The American was in action at the Travelers Championship this week, where U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley secured victory.
Tony Finau will return at The Open(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
Finau endured a much tougher week, ending the tournament at TPC River Highlands at 11-over-par, tied for last with Nick Dunlap. It has been a mixed season for the 2022 Rocket Classic champion, who will be hoping to find his A-game in the coming weeks to strengthen his Ryder Cup chances.
One of his stronger showings this campaign came at the PGA Championship last month, where Finau ended the week in a tie for 19th at two-under for the tournament. Finau had found himself in contention over the weekend at Quail Hollow before Scottie Scheffler eventually ran away with victory.
Assessing his season so far at the PGA, Finau said: “Mixed bag for sure. I’ve had a couple of good finishes, and I would say mostly kind of disappointing finishes, nothing too special.
“But the great thing about, again, having experience that I have, being out here, this is my 11th season now.
“Every week you have an opportunity to do something special, and I try not to be nonchalant about every week and approach each week as if you can change the mojo of your career, your season, in that week. So again, I try to use my experience to my advantage. It hasn’t been a season to remember, you know, to be quite honest.
“But that can all change in a week, and I try to keep that attitude, that fresh attitude every time I have an opportunity to tee it up, and I’ve got a cool opportunity to change the season and change the course of my career.”