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A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 27 January 2021
The lack of wins starting to pile up for Tony Finau

By DOUG FERGUSON than three times.
AP Golf Writer It wasn't a lack of effort
At least it can't be said Tony by Howell, and it's not by
Finau is in a slump. He hasn't Finau. He has had six run-
won enough for that. ner-up finishes and 35 top
And that might be his big- 10s since his lone playoff
gest burden. victory in Puerto Rico.
In his seventh year on the "We would have thought
PGA Tour, in 168 tourna- he would have won his
ments, his only victory was in second title by now," Boyd
March of 2016 at the Puerto Summerhays, his swing
Rico Open, the same week coach, told Golf Chan-
the top 64 in the world were nel on Sunday. "You would
in Texas for the Match Play. have thought that. The fans
Everyone in golf should would have thought that,
know this because it gets which is why, behind the
mentioned every time scenes, I've never seen him
Finau is in contention, like work as hard as he has the
he was last week in the last year."
California desert, or when Finau left the desert en-
he's a captain's pick, like couraged, the opposite of
he was for the Ryder Cup in what it would seem.
France and the Presidents He said he usually has a
Cup in Australia. Tony Finau watches his approach shot from the 18th fairway during the third round of The Ameri- pretty good sense when he
He looks to be built for can Express golf tournament on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, Saturday, Jan. 23, walks off the final hole, and
greatness. Finau is 6-foot-4 2021, in La Quinta, Calif. someone else is headed
with a wingspan measured Associated Press for the trophy presentation,
at 6-foot-8. He is capable how much a loss is going
of generating as much ball and is out of the top 50 for at least a share of the 54- Finau was tied for the lead to sting. This wasn't one of
speed as Bryson DeCham- the first time in seven years. hole lead and failed to win. and began with two quick them. He felt he was head-
beau without the grunts or Francesco Molinari tied for Among the more crushing birdies. He dropped back ed in the right direction.
the protein shakes. eighth last week. That was losses was the Waste Man- by hitting 3-iron into the wa- It's not that the losses are
Finau has been among the his first top 10 since he lost agement Phoenix Open ter on the par-5 11th and mounting, because in no
top 50 in the world for the a two-shot lead on the last year, when Webb missing a 3-foot par putt. other sport does greatness
last three years, reaching back nine of the 2019 Mas- Simpson birdied the last He shot 68 and finished four have such a high rate of
as high as No. 9 toward ters, when he was No. 7 in two holes to force a play- behind Si Woo Kim, who losing.
the end of 2018. He has the world. The British Open off and then made another shot 64 to hold off Patrick The rate of winning is what
amassed more than $20 champion from 2018 is now birdie to win. Cantlay and his 61. stands out for Finau.
million in PGA Tour earnings. at No. 110. There also was the HSBC It's always someone else, And as Summerhays said,
He has fit in nicely among Slumps are for those who Champions in Shanghai, and it only raises the same "Every tournament that
America's finest in the last have a history of winning. where Finau took a three- question. One victory in 168 goes by makes it more dif-
two team competitions. Finau should want to trade shot lead into the final chances with all that tal- ficult. There's no other way
So it's not a slump. That be- places. round. Xander Schauffele ent. Why? to look at it." Finau con-
longs to others in the field Instead, he heads from was one shot behind with The next one — there will ceded it gets tiring answer-
this week at the Farmers In- PGA West after another two holes to play when he be a next one, right? — ing questions about when
surance Open. close call to Torrey Pines for made one only four bird- won't change that. he will win again. For him, it
Jordan Spieth hasn't won what he sees as another ies on the final day at the Charles Howell III has been only adds to the challenge,
since he captured the third opportunity. He is not eas- tough par-3 17th, matched dealing with it his entire ca- which already has proven
leg of the career Grand ily discouraged, and that birdies with Finau on the reer. Even when he won the to be stout. "I'm going to
Slam in the 2017 British requires a different kind of par-5 closing hole and won RSM Classic at Sea Island at have a lot of opportunities
Open. Rickie Fowler is ap- strength. with a two-putt birdie in the the end of 2018, the chat- to win tournaments. That's
proaching the two-year The American Express was playoff. ter inevitably got around to to me what the exciting
anniversary of his last win the fourth time he has had On Sunday at PGA West, why he hadn't won more thing is," he said. q

Boston Marathon set for Oct. 11 if state allows

By KYLE HIGHTOWER 26.2-mile race was not run. October."
AP Sports Writer Plans for this year's race are pending approval Road races are not permitted until the state's
BOSTON (AP) — The 125th edition of the Bos- from the eight cities and towns that are part of reopening plan enters Phase 4. Massachusetts
ton Marathon will be held Oct. 11 if road races the marathon route. reverted to Phase 3 in December.
are allowed to take place under Massachu- "Massachusetts continues to fight COVID-19 A total of 15,972 people ran a virtual race last
setts' COVID-19 restrictions, race officials said and distribute vaccines across the common- year, completing the 26.2-mile distance on
Tuesday. wealth, and with brighter days ahead, we their own over a 10-day period. In 1918, the
The Boston Athletic Association said it has "cau- are looking forward to getting back to a new marathon format was modified to a relay due
tious optimism" the event will take place. Last normal in 2021," Gov. Charlie Baker, a Repub- to World War I; the 2013 race was stopped
year's Boston Marathon was postponed from lican, said in a statement. "We will continue to when two bombs exploded at the finish line,
April to September and ultimately canceled work with local partners and the BAA to moni- several hours after the winners had finished
two months later, the first time since 1897 that tor the situation and remain hopeful that the but while many recreational runners were still
the world's oldest and most prestigious annual 125th Boston Marathon can take place this on the course.q