DETROIT — Two weeks ago at the U.S. Open, Tony Finau predicted 10 under would be the winning score at Los Angeles Country Club.
A couple of days later, Wyndham Clark outlasted Rory McIlroy to capture his first career major.
The winning score? That’s right — 10 under.
On Tuesday at Detroit Golf Club, the defending champion of the Rocket Mortgage Classic was asked to offer his prediction for the fifth playing of the PGA Tour event this week at Detroit Golf Club.
“I think this may be a week where you have to go 30 under because of the conditions being so soft,” Finau said. “So, when you shoot 30 under, you've got to make putts.”
If Finau proves to once again be a soothsayer, his record from last year will be eclipsed. Finau finished his four rounds at 26 under to win last year’s tournament, the lowest in the first four playings of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
It is, however, still well off the PGA Tour record, as would a final score of 30 under.
In January 2022, Cam Smith, now a member of the LIV Tour, shot 34 under to win the Tournament of Champions, besting the previous low mark relative to par of 31 under set by Ernie Els in the 2003 Mercedes Championship. Steve Stricker shot 33 under through the first four rounds of the 2009 Bob Hope Classic, but that was a five-round event won by Pat Perez after Stricker faltered in the final round.
If a player is to make a run this week at establishing a record, getting the chance to do so at Detroit Golf Club surely helps. The Donald Ross design can be a challenge when the conditions are tough as the difficult greens and tight fairways can become a factor with dry, fast greens and the potential of some wind.
But the rain came down heavily over the weekend and into Monday, creating much more receptive greens than typical, and Finau says he just might be the guy to rewrite the record books as more rain could be on the way with a chance for afternoon storms from Friday through Sunday.
“As far as my mentality, shooters shoot, that's all there is to it,” Finau said. “I think I've been around the game enough to kind of have an idea. Again, I'm pretty much calling 30 under this week, just because of the conditions. I think last year I was able to get to 26. When Nate Lashley won (in 2019) he was able to get to 25. Both years were pretty soft, but (the greens) started to get firm on the weekend because we didn't experience any rain.
“It's a golf course clearly you can score on so with the conditions, barring any wind, I do think you're going to have to shoot 28 to 30 under.”
For Finau, that means getting his putter going. He currently ranks 101st on Tour in strokes gained on the greens and when he’s struggling, it’s more often with a putter in his hands.
It wasn’t the case earlier this season when he captured career win No. 6, but it’s clearly his focus heading into Thursday’s opening round.
“ I never get shy when it comes to putting,” Finau said. “I believe I'm a good putter. I've shown myself that through not only my career on the PGA Tour but throughout my life. I make putts when they matter, and I have to continue to have that belief no matter what kind of struggles you go through.
“I haven't putted the way that I know I can. Outside of Mexico this year, I haven't really putted great, but I continue to look at the technique. … Hopefully I see them go in early this week, but that's the best way I can put it. Shooters shoot and I'll continue to shoot.”
As far as defending his championship, Finau would hardly be the first this season.
Already, Max Homa (Fortinet Championship), Rory McIlroy (The CJ Cup) and Scottie Scheffler (Phoenix Open) have defended their championships this season.
“It would mean a lot,” Finau said of a potential repeat in Detroit. “Any win is great, but when you go back-to-back at a golf tournament, especially on a tournament that means so much to me. … this is my first back-to-back in my career last year, winning back-to-back weeks. To be able to go back-to-back at this event in back-to-back years I think would mean a lot to myself and my career.”
Finau festivities
Tournament organizers have been rolling out the red carpet for the defending champion, including creating a Tony Finau bobblehead which was handed out to fans on Tuesday.
They also began a new tradition by offering a sandwich for purchase that honors the defending champion. This week it’s the Finau Fitu. Fitu means seven in the Samoan language and it honors the seven members of Finau’s family and includes seven ingredients — ham, swiss cheese, pickled jalapeno, Maui onions, maltaise aioli, basil tomatoes and sweet bread — to create the Polynesian inspired sandwich.
“The Finau Fitu is a very tasty sandwich,” Finau said. “Anybody that's here this week, I would advise you to order it. It comes with coconut water, which is my favorite water or my favorite drink really on the planet.
“It's quite a touch that Rocket Mortgage would do something like that. I've never been a name on a menu, I've never been asked to have a menu item, so for them to do something that special is really cool, definitely something I'll always remember.”
Rocket shuffle
The field has shuffled a bit over the past two days as Patrick Rodgers and Hayden Buckley withdrew on Monday, opening spots for Nicolai Hojgaard and Sean O’Hair. On Tuesday, Harris English withdrew, leading to Cody Gibble joining the field.
Also on Monday, Kyle Stanley was added as a sponsor’s exemption.
Rocket Mortgage Classic
— When: Thursday through Sunday
— Where: Detroit Golf Club (par 72; 7,370 yards)
— TV: Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. on Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. on Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. on CBS
— Defending champion: Tony Finau
— Purse: $8.8 million ($1.584 million to winner)
— Tickets: Details at rocketmortgageclassic.com; kids 15 and younger get in free with a ticketed adult; admission is free for all Tuesday (AREA 313 celebrity scramble, youth clinic) and Wednesday (pro-am)
