Maybe Tony Finau will be a part of LIV Golf in any case.
After initially committing to this week’s Hero World Problem, the 20-man occasion hosted by Tiger Woods each December, Finau pulled out on the final minute resulting from undisclosed causes. The PGA Tour Communications workforce launched an up to date area on Monday morning, which included 2023 Ryder Cup participant Sepp Straka taking Finau’s place.
That has led many to take a position about Finau’s affinity with the Saudi-backed circuit. In fact, at this level final 12 months, Jon Rahm jumped ship to LIV Golf, doing so on dwell tv whereas carrying a LIV letterman jacket. Within the weeks main as much as that announcement, Rahm-to-LIV rumors circulated for days on finish, which had been ultimately confirmed to the world on Dec. 7, 2023—precisely six months and at some point after the PGA Tour struck a framework settlement with the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF), LIV’s beneficiary.
Rahm went on to win two LIV occasions and in the end gained the season-long particular person title in his debut season.
Finau, in the meantime, posted 5 top-10 finishes, which included a runner-up on the Texas Kids’s Houston Open and a T-3 on the U.S. Open. He didn’t have a poor season per se, as he did qualify for the Tour Championship at East Lake. Finau additionally made 20-of-22 cuts however didn’t make it into the winner’s circle. His final skilled victory got here on the 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta.
The Utah native has turned down presents from LIV Golf up to now, however these in LIV circles point out that Finau will be a part of Rahm’s Legion XIII workforce forward of the 2025 season. Who is aware of if this can really play out, however given Finau’s timing of his withdrawal and the truth that Rahm joined LIV in December final 12 months, this hypothesis definitely carries some weight.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.