The golf world is abuzz with the recent struggles of Tony Finau, a player who once seemed destined for greatness. Finau, a fan favorite for nearly a decade, has seen his rankings plummet and his major championship status hang in the balance. But what's going on with Tony Finau? Let's take a closer look at the factors contributing to his recent decline.
The Putter: A Misconception
Many assume Finau's struggles stem from his putting, especially his short putts. However, this is a misconception. Finau has always had challenges with short putts, ranking outside the top 140 on the PGA Tour in putting from inside 5 feet for five consecutive seasons. Despite this, he managed to be a top player, indicating that the putter isn't the primary issue.
Iron Play: A Sharp Decline
One clear reason for Finau's struggles is his iron play. Since 2017, he hadn't finished worse than 39th in Strokes Gained: Approach until this year, when he plummeted to a shocking 135th. This dramatic drop in quality is concerning, but it's not unprecedented for a player to experience a dip in iron play during times of adjustment.
Driver: A Lost Advantage
Finau's driver, once a significant advantage, has also declined. He hasn't been in the top 30 in distance since 2020 and finished a career-low 73rd last year. Accuracy isn't improving either, which is a worry when combined with declining distance. Finau's SG: OTT ranking has declined for eight consecutive years, indicating a significant loss of juice in recent years.
Compromise Off the Tee
Finau will need to make a compromise off the tee to remain competitive. With his obvious shortcomings on the greens, he'll need to find more accuracy off the tee to set up his iron play. If the distance continues to decline without an improvement in accuracy, Finau's iron play will face too much pressure to keep him competitive with the world's best.
Can He Bounce Back?
Finau will face plenty of pressure in 2026 as he tries to avoid falling out of the world's top 100 and losing status in major championships. Another year removed from surgery could help, and I wouldn't be surprised if the iron play rebounds closer to his career form. However, with his obvious shortcomings on the greens, Finau will need to make a compromise off the tee at some point to remain competitive as he approaches his 40s.
