'I was riding the high' - Tony Finau makes strong start at Rocket Mortgage Classic, Rickie Fowler off pace
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Updated 28/07/2022 at 22:03 GMT
Fresh from his win at the 3M Open last weekend, Tony Finau carried the momentum into the Rocket Mortgage Classic as he carded a round of 64 at Detroit Golf Club. The American is riding the crest of a wave at present and was joined for the clubhouse lead by Taylor Pendrith who is back in action after a broken rib.
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Tony Finau carried on where he left off last week, as he backed up his win at the 3M Open with an impressive opening round of 64 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Finau came from five shots back to win last weekend, but his aim this week may be to go wire-to-wire after a superb start in Detroit.
It was a controlled, blemish-free round as he carded eight birdies to get to eight-under.
"I was riding the high off of last week," Finau said. "Every week is different."
Finau said he did not alter his routine coming off the back of a win.
“It felt good,” Finau said. “I was on a high from last week.
“I just tried to stay focused and tried to prepare for this week like any other week.
“I just play and try to stay in the present. It was what I did last week and what I am trying to do this week.
“You don’t try to get ahead of yourself. We have 54 holes ahead of us, but after 18 holes I played really nicely.”
The Utah native was joined on eight-under by Taylor Pendrith who is back in action - and in good form - after taking a spell out to heal a fractured rib.
First Round Leaderboard
- T1. Tony Finau, eight-under
- T1. Taylor Pendrith, eight-under
- T3. Michael Thompson, six-under
- T3. Webb Simpson, six-under
- T3. Cameron Champ, six-under
- T3. Lee Hodges, six-under
- T3. Matt Wallace, six-under
Top-15 finishes at the Barbasol Championship and Barracuda Championship show Pendrith is back in form and ready to compete for a first PGA Tour success.
Cameron Champ appears to be finding some form and he carded a 66 to sit two behind Finau and Pendrith.
Matt Wallace was another player to get himself to six-under, the same score as Webb Simpson
The highlight of the day for many was the hole in one for Mark Hubbard.
USA Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson posted a 67 to sit five-under while Luke Donald - the man tipped to replace Henrik Stenson as Europe’s captain - signed for a round at 70, the same score as Danny Willett and world No. 4 Patrick Cantlay.
Former World No. 1 Jason Day is sitting at three-under, but Rickie Fowler has work to do to make the cut as he is one-over.
The afternoon starters were faced with far more testing conditions, as the wind picked up in Detroit.
Will Zalatoris played extremely well, but sits six shots behind Finau and Pendrith.
Zalatoris’ playing partner Cameron Young, teeing it up for the first time since his second place at the Open, bogeyed the 18th to sign for a 71.
An eagle on the seventh hole was the highlight of Adam Scott’s round of 69.
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