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Tony Finau is an American professional golfer. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is of Tongan and Samoan descent through his mother, Ravena, and his father, Kelepi. Finau is the first person of such ancestry to play on the PGA Tour. He has represented the U.S. in multiple Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, and has won several PGA Tour titles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tony Finau |
| Nationality | American |
| Descent | Tongan and Samoan |
| Date of Birth | September 14, 1989 |
| Birthplace | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Parents | Ravena Finau (mother) and Kelepi Finau (father) |
| Siblings | Gipper Finau (brother) and five others |
| Religion | Mormon (member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) |
| Spouse | Alayna Finau |
| Children | Six |
| Cousin | Jabari Parker (NBA basketball player) |
| Sport | Golf |
| Career Highlights | Six-time PGA Tour winner, 2021 Northern Trust winner, 2022 3M Open winner, 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic winner, 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open winner |
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What You'll Learn
Finau is of Tongan and Samoan descent
Tony Finau is an American professional golfer. He was born on September 14, 1989, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is of Tongan and Samoan descent. Finau's mother, Ravena, was from American Samoa, while his father, Kelepi, was from Tonga. Finau is the first golfer of Samoan and Tongan descent to hold a P.G.A. Tour card and to play on the PGA Tour.
Finau comes from a large family and has six siblings, including an older brother named Gipper, who has also played golf. Unfortunately, his mother, Ravena, passed away in a car accident in Nevada in 2011. Finau dedicated his first PGA win to her and has said that she encouraged him to pursue a career in golf. He comes from a family of athletes; his cousin, Jabari Parker, is an NBA basketball player, and Haloti Ngata, a former NFL football player, is also his cousin.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall, Finau was offered college basketball scholarships in high school but chose to pursue golf instead. He turned professional at 17 after graduating from high school. As an amateur, he had a string of impressive achievements, including being a two-time medalist in the Utah state high school championship and a 2006 state championship team member. He was also a four-time first-team all-state selection and was named the 2007 Athlete of the Year at West High School.
Finau made his Ryder Cup debut in 2018, representing the United States, and has since made multiple appearances for Team USA, including at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, where the U.S. team won 19-9. Finau has also represented the U.S. at the Presidents Cup in 2019 and 2022, with the U.S. team winning in 2019. In addition to his team participations, Finau has had notable individual performances, such as winning the 2021 Northern Trust and the Cadence Bank Houston Open in 2022, among other victories. He is a six-time PGA Tour winner and holds the PGA Tour record for the most top-10 finishes in a four-year period without a win.
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He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah
Tony Finau is an American professional golfer. He was born on September 14, 1989, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Finau is of Tongan and Samoan descent through his mother, Ravena, and father, Kelepi, respectively. He is the first person of such ancestry to play on the PGA Tour. Finau's parents ensured that he was raised with an understanding and appreciation of his Polynesian heritage, which includes values such as respect and love.
Finau grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, with six siblings, including an older brother, Gipper, who has also pursued golf. Gipper Finau made the cut in the Utah EnergySolutions Championship at the age of 16. Sadly, the Finau family suffered a tragedy in 2011 when Ravena perished in a car accident in Nevada. Finau has since dedicated his first PGA win to his mother and continues to pass down the lessons he learned from her to his four children.
As a youth in Salt Lake City, Finau excelled in sports and was offered college basketball scholarships. However, he chose to pursue a career in golf and turned professional at the young age of 17. Finau's talent was evident from an early start, as he practised golf in his garage as a child, using a mattress as a makeshift golf net. He went on to become a two-time medalist in the Utah state high school championship and a 2006 state championship team member. Finau also won the 2006 Utah State Amateur tournament, showcasing his prowess in the sport.
Finau's connection to Salt Lake City and Utah extends beyond his birth and youth. The state provided him with opportunities to hone his skills and achieve notable victories. In July 2020, he broke 60 at Victory Ranch Golf Club in Utah. Additionally, Finau's brother, Gipper, made the cut in the Utah EnergySolutions Championship, showcasing the family's impact on the golfing community in the state. Finau's parents were frequently spotted cheering on their son at golf events in Utah, demonstrating their unwavering support for his career.
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Finau is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Tony Finau is an American professional golfer. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is of Tongan and Samoan descent. He is the first person of such ancestry to play on the PGA Tour. Finau is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, formerly known as the Mormons. He is a lifelong member and sees no conflict between his athletic ambitions and his religious beliefs.
In a podcast interview on The Erik Anders Lang Show, Finau shared how his faith is deeply rooted in his life and that he strives to be a good example and a light to others. He said:
> Everything I do is deeply rooted in my faith and especially in Jesus Christ. I think we're all children of God. I believe that, and we can all help each other in some way. And to me, that's my mission—just to be a light to everybody. And if people take a liking to who I am or what I do, hopefully, they know where that comes from. That light is from one source, and I believe that source to be Jesus Christ.
Finau also includes his Church affiliation in his Instagram bio, stating: "I'm proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He has also stated that his faith and family have helped him in times of trial and kept him humble in his successes.
Finau's faith has not hindered his golfing ambitions. In fact, he sees golf as a platform to be an example and to share his faith with others. He has said that he feels like he is on a mission, and while he has not served a full-time mission, he has travelled to many different countries and shared his faith through golf. Finau's faith and golfing career are intertwined, and he is a proud representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the world of professional golf.
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He is a six-time PGA Tour winner
Tony Finau is an American professional golfer of Tongan and Samoan descent. He is the first person of such ancestry to play on the PGA Tour. In March 2016, Finau won his first PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach. He won his first title in August 2014 at the Stonebrae Classic. Finau finished the 2014 regular season in 8th place and 12th in the Web.com Tour Finals, earning his PGA Tour card for the 2014–15 season.
Finau has had several notable performances in major tournaments. In June 2018, he finished in 5th place at the U.S. Open, his highest finish at that time in a major tournament. In September 2018, he was selected as a captain's pick for the 2018 Ryder Cup, where he finished with a 2-1-0 record and won his singles match over Tommy Fleetwood. In 2019, Finau had a strong showing at the Masters Tournament, ending the tournament tied for 5th place.
Finau continued his impressive run on the PGA Tour in 2021, with a stretch of five weeks where he finished in the top 4 in four consecutive tournaments. He won the 2021 Northern Trust, beating Cameron Smith in a playoff. In July 2022, Finau secured back-to-back victories at the 3M Open and the Rocket Mortgage Classic, marking his third and fourth PGA Tour wins. Later that year, in November, Finau claimed his third PGA Tour victory of the year at the Cadence Bank Houston Open.
In April 2023, Tony Finau achieved his sixth career PGA Tour victory at the Mexico Open. Finau's success on the PGA Tour has been remarkable, and he has established himself as a prominent figure in professional golf. His achievements have broken barriers, becoming the first person of Tongan and Samoan ancestry to compete and excel on the PGA Tour.
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Finau's first sport was fire-knife dancing, a Samoan ritual
Tony Finau is a professional golfer of Tongan and Samoan descent. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is the first person of such ancestry to play on the PGA Tour.
Fire-knife dancing, or 'Siva Afi', is an ancient Samoan ritual. It originated on the Island of Upolu between 1200 and 1250 AD and came into prominence during the reign of King Maui Tagote. The dance was originally performed with a 'nifo oti', a serrated-edged Samoan war club that was often edged with the teeth of sharks and other sea creatures. The name 'Siva Afi' translates to 'Ailao Afi', with 'ailaos' being the name of the ceremonial processions in which the dance was performed.
The traditional fire knife is made by wrapping a machete in towels on both ends, with a portion of the blade exposed in the middle. The towels are then set on fire during the dance. This practice is said to have originated when Samoan warriors, after consuming "bush gin", danced and revealed the locations of buried weapons to other warriors waiting offshore. The warriors then retrieved the weapons, setting them ablaze and driving the Tongan invaders out in a bloody battle across the island.
In 1946, Samoan-American Uluao Letuli (aka Freddie Letuli) is credited with lighting his knife on fire during a performance, marking the beginning of the modern fire knife dance. While the traditional fire knife dance is an important part of Samoan culture, it is not acceptable to use knives with unblunted blades except for training purposes.
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Frequently asked questions
Tony Finau is an American by nationality. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is of Tongan and Samoan descent.
Finau is the first golfer of Samoan and Tongan descent to hold a PGA Tour card. He is the first person of such ancestry to play on the PGA Tour.
Finau has a Polynesian heritage and upbringing. His mother Ravena is of American Samoan descent and his father Kelepi is from Tonga.
