Tony Finau talks U.S. Open at Pinehurst, how to hit better iron shots in Q&A

Tony Finau arrives at Pinehurst’s No. 2 course looking to win his first major.

The 34-year-old has 10 top-10 finishes in major championships, with his last top-10 coming at the 2021 PGA Championship, where he tied for eighth at Kiawah Island.

Finau’s best result was a tie for third at the British Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, but now he believes his game is trending in the right direction.

Finau hasn’t missed the cut since tying for second at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, when he also tied for 12th at Harbour Town and 18th at Valhalla.

He probably would have done better at the Charles Schwab Challenge had he not shot a final-round 75 at Colonial, but he still finished tied for 17th.

Nevertheless, Playing Through caught up with Finau ahead of the U.S. Open to discuss his game and a host of other relevant topics.

A conversation with Tony Finau ahead of the U.S. Open:

(Editor’s note: This conversation has been lightly edited and revised for readability and clarity.)

Playing: What is the current state of the game?

Tony Finau: I think it’s mostly good. I think it’s mostly good, and there’s always room for improvement. You know, in golf, especially professional golf, you’re never satisfied with where you’re playing, even if you’re playing well. But I’ve had some good weeks here and there. I’ve had some really good rounds and I’m looking forward to taking on the second hole at Pinehurst next week.

PT: What do you think about Pinehurst? What do you think is important to win at Pinehurst?

Finau: I played in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in 2014 and Martin Kaymer won. That was the first and last time I ever saw a golf course, but I just remember thinking how amazing the place was.

I don’t know if you’ve ever played a golf course like Pinehurst No. 2. There are barely any bunkers or anything like that. The whole golf course is like a wasteland. The greens are very undulating and if I remember correctly, almost all the greens are turtleback greens, so that presents a problem.

So to win next week I have to do two things well: first, my driving – if I can drive the fairway, I can showcase my iron play, which has been really good for the last few years – and then my putting, especially my lag putting.

The putt must also go in within 10 feet.

I think these will be the most important.

I think you’re going to be using your putter a lot around the greens because it gives you more options. That’s what I really like about this golf course. If you miss the green, you’re not going to be two or three yards off. Because of the turtleback, the ball will roll into the catchment area and you’re going to be 10 to 20 yards off the green.

I’m not the type to chip with an 8 iron or a 7 iron. I like to putt and keep the ball on the ground. So that’s going to be very important. Those are the two things I want to look out for in order to play well next week.

Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images

PT: You’ve mentioned that your iron play is one of your strengths. I’m always impressed with the way you strike the ball, but what advice would you give to amateur players who struggle to make good contact with their irons?

Finau: That’s a great question. The most important thing, and this is going to sound really silly, is any time you hit a golf shot, make contact with the ball.

So we have to start from the basics.

If you can make good contact with the chipping, you can back away from there.

My dad called it the “L-to-L motion.” Basically, you bend your left arm to 90 degrees on the backswing and your right arm to 90 degrees during the shot, and then you build from there.

You need to make solid contact, and once you get the feel for that you can make bigger and bigger swings, but you have to start small.

I learned how to play golf from the green and I came back from there, I was lucky because I learned how to chip shots, and then I was able to get behind the ball all the way and I feel like I can hit the golf ball well.

I was lucky enough to learn how to chip at a young age, so I know this may not be what a lot of people want to hear, but if you go to the range and pull out your driver right away, you’re taking poison. If you’re just starting out in golf, you need to learn how to chip and make good contact with the ball with a small swing.

Once you can do that, move on to a half swing, then a three-quarter swing, then a full swing – you’ll be amazed at how well you can make contact with the ball.

Photo: Tim Heitman/Getty Images

PT: Did you have a pre-scouting trip to Pinehurst or do you head to Pinehurst after the Memorial Tournament and then prepare afterwards?

Finau: I go in after the memorial service on Sunday night. I work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

You know, I think a lot of people take their prep time to look at the golf course and stuff. Again, I’ve only looked at it once, but the way I did it, you really get to see what the golf course is going to play that week. Three days before is more than enough time to figure out the golf course and then by Thursday you’ll be ready to go.

PT: This year’s schedule features a lot of big name tournaments around the majors, including the U.S. Open sandwiched between the Memorial and Travelers Championship. What do you think about that? Do you think some of the majors are a little unexpected?

Finau: Yes, a little bit. I think every event means a lot now. I think signature events are more important than they ever have been. With the major championships and the way the tournaments are structured, there’s a premium on playing well. If you’re not in the top 50 at the end of the year in the FedEx Cup, you don’t get to play in the signature event next year.

So every tournament means a lot to me.

And in some ways, I think the majors will ramp up, like they did this week. But throughout the year, there are a few signature events and a few majors next to each other. So it’s nice to play all the big events, but there’s also a focus on playing well there. You can’t just play average golf. There are a lot of great players out there and you have to play your best every week, but it’s a great challenge.

PT: 2024 has certainly not been an easy season for professional golf, especially on the PGA Tour, and the last few weeks have been unimaginable, but shifting to a more positive mindset, what has been your favorite moment so far this season?

Finau: No question about it. I think there’s always great stories and great lessons to be learned. Like you said, the last few weeks have been hard on the PGA TOUR family with the death of Grayson Murray. We really are a family, we’re like brothers. Any time you lose a guy, it’s hard.

But on the bright side, some great things have happened in the past few weeks.

It was incredible to see Robbie McIntyre win the RBC Canadian Open on his dad’s back. I’m a big Robbie McIntyre fan.

“I’ve known him for quite a while now and his dream has always been to play on the PGA Tour. I spoke with him in Europe in 2018 while he was playing a European Tour event and he told me at the time that his lifelong dream was to play on the PGA Tour, so to see him win last week with his father caddying for him was just incredible.”

Photo: Sean M. Hafey/Getty Images

It was an incredible moment for the game, with Xander Schauffele winning his first major the week before and the drama coming down to the 18th hole.

This year’s Players Championship was the most exciting tournament I’ve seen in a long time. The No. 1 player in the world came close and held his own. Scotty shot a 64 on Sunday and had three other guys with a chance. Brian Harman made a putt on the 18th hole. Wyndham Clark made a putt. Xander made a putt. The finale at TPC Sawgrass was just so exciting.

PT: Speaking of Scottie Scheffler, what do you think of his play this year? Where were you when you found out he was arrested?

FINAU: Well, I had just woken up. I didn’t have a morning tee time for the second round of the PGA, so when I woke up, of course it was all on the news, but I was just in bed in my hotel room. It was a very unfortunate situation, but I’m glad all the charges against him were dropped. I just thought it was a very unfortunate miscommunication.

But Scottie is a great player.

I think he’s a generational talent, and he’s already shown that talent in the last few years. He’s just shown a little bit of what I think he’s really made out to be. A lot of people are saying, “He’s doing phenomenal.” Well, I think that’s more of a reflection of the guy than just his making.

He is a great golfer.

He is very smart.

“He has his priorities in place and it doesn’t seem to be faltering. He knows who he is and for someone as talented as him, that’s a great combination. Honestly, it’s pretty special to witness that.”

Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

PT: Can you talk about your relationship with American Express and what it means to you to represent Utah at the U.S. Open, as you will have the Mo’ Bettah logo on the belly of your bag next week?

Finau: I’ve been an ambassador for AMEX for over five years. AMEX has a long history of supporting small businesses and local communities, so it means the world to me that AMEX is supporting my favorite restaurant in Utah, Mo Betta.

If you come to Utah, be sure to check it out.

They now have restaurants in Nevada, California, Texas and Oklahoma, but having them on the belly of my bag next week and getting some attention means everything to me.

It’s a Hawaiian restaurant and Hawaii holds a special place in my heart. I love Hawaiian food. The menu will also feature Finau’s favorite dishes, and the proceeds will go directly to my foundation.

So, overall it’s a good atmosphere.

PT: Just to add a little more detail, what’s on the Finau Plate?

Finau: Teriyaki steak, teriyaki chicken, three bowls of white rice, two bowls of macaroni salad, a little bit of lettuce on the bottom. You could put more teriyaki sauce on top, but it’s a healthy portion. I’m a big eater, so I can’t finish even one plate of my favorite food, but it’s a healthy portion.

Beginning at 9 a.m. ET on June 10, fans can enter for a chance to win a Tony Finau U.S. Open prize package that includes a Nike hat, polo shirt, golf shoes, a Pinehurst pin flag autographed by Tony Finau and a USGAShop.com gift card valued at $150.

To enter, fans must golf From the week of the U.S. Open through the completion of the final round on Sunday, June 16th.

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.