Finau muscles off Rahm to win in Mexico

Ronan MacNamara
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Tony Finau (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Ronan MacNamara

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Tony Finau held off the final round challenge of Jon Rahm as he picked up his sixth PGA Tour victory at the Mexico Open at Vidanta.

Finau carded a final round of 66 to win on twenty-four-under and claim a three shot win over the Masters champion.

The American held a two shot advantage heading into Sunday and three birdies in his first seven holes virtually put him over the hill as he cruised home with two birdies on the hack nine.

It’s Finau’s second win of the season and his fourth in 18 months.

“Very happy just with the four rounds I was able to put together,” Finau said. “And I knew today was going to be a tall task going against (Rahm) with the form that he’s in. I was really put to the test and came out on top, which feels great.

“It seems no matter how many shots you’re ahead, you’re just so focused on getting in the clubhouse to win the golf tournament. When I hit that third shot on 18, I was like all right, I don’t think I can screw this up now,” Finau said with a smile.”

Rahm’s runner-up finish saw him break the record for PGA Tour earnings in a season after he took his winnings to a cool $14.4 million.

The World Number one carded a final round 67 but Finau was just too good.

“It was a day where I didn’t do much wrong, but I didn’t do much right either,” Rahm said. “It is what it is. Still proud to come back after the year that has been and put on a show and have a good defense of the title.

“Even when I made the birdie on 15, I knew if I could somehow play 16, 17 well, there was a chance there,” Rahm said. “The first five holes with the tee shots I hit and where I was – I should have given myself at least a couple putts inside 12 feet for birdie. I just never really did. Then there were a couple holes when I had the chance again, like 8 I didn’t take advantage of it. I think I did what I needed to do off the tee and I just didn’t capitalize on a couple of those opportunities.

“It’s not terrible, it’s still a 67, it’s 4 under par. But I wish it could have been better.”

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