PLAYER PROFILE · PGA TOUR
Tony Finau is one of golf’s most likeable and powerful players – a six-time PGA Tour winner, a fixture of American team golf, and a trailblazing figure of Tongan and Samoan heritage.
| Full name | Milton Pouha “Tony” Finau |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 September 1989, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Heritage | Tongan and Samoan |
| Turned pro | 2007 |
| Primary tour | PGA Tour |
| Height | 6′ 4″ (1.93 m) |
| Major championships | 0 (best: 3rd, 2019 Open) |
| PGA Tour wins | 6 |
A Pioneer from Salt Lake City
Tony Finau grew up in Salt Lake City in a close Polynesian family, learning the game on a shoestring and turning professional at seventeen. Of Tongan and Samoan descent, he became the first person of that ancestry to play on the PGA Tour – a distinction he has always carried with pride, and one that has made him a hero to a community rarely represented at golf’s highest level.
The Long Wait, and the Winning
For years Finau was known as much for his near-misses as his victories, a fixture near the top of leaderboards who took time to convert that consistency into trophies. When the wins came, they came in a rush: he has now claimed six PGA Tour titles, silencing any doubt about his ability to finish, and cementing his place among the most dependable performers of his era.
So Close at the Majors
The one prize still missing is a major. Finau has come agonisingly close – a third place at the 2019 Open Championship, top-five finishes at the Masters and PGA Championship, and further high results at the U.S. Open. His length and ball-striking seem tailor-made for the biggest tests, and the breakthrough, if it comes, would be among the most popular in the game.
Team Golf and Temperament
Finau has been a mainstay of United States team golf, playing Ryder Cups in 2018 and 2021 and three Presidents Cups. Universally liked for his warmth and equanimity, he is one of the sport’s genuine good-news stories – a powerful, gracious competitor whose success has opened doors for a whole community behind him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Tony Finau won a major championship?
Tony Finau has not won a major, though he has contended repeatedly – with a third-place finish at the 2019 Open Championship and top-five results at the Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open among his best major performances.
How old is Tony Finau and where is he from?
Finau was born on 14 September 1989 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He turned professional in 2007 and is of Tongan and Samoan descent – the first person of that ancestry to play on the PGA Tour.
How many PGA Tour titles has Tony Finau won?
Finau has won six PGA Tour titles, having established himself as one of the most consistent and popular players of his generation.
Has Tony Finau played in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup?
Yes. Finau played on the United States’ Ryder Cup teams in 2018 and 2021 and on Presidents Cup teams in 2019, 2022 and 2024 – a mainstay of American team golf.
What is Tony Finau known for?
Finau is known for his enormous length off the tee, his unfailingly warm demeanour, and his trailblazing role as a Polynesian pioneer in a sport that had never before seen a player of his heritage at its highest level.