NASSAU, Bahamas — There’s a superb rationalization for why Tony Finau withdrew from this week’s Hero World Problem. Finau underwent surgical procedure on Oct. 15 to restore a torn meniscus and take away cartilage in his left knee.
“From what my doctor told me it was pretty standard clean up,” he advised Golfweek through cellphone on Wednesday. “He said it would be helpful and so I did it.”
Finau’s WD from the Hero and the very fact he hasn’t formally registered for the Sentry, the kickoff to the 2025 PGA Tour season, fueled hypothesis on social media that Finau, ranked No. 26 within the Official World Golf Rating and one of many sport’s hottest gamers off of his look in Netflix’s “Full Swing” documentary, could also be headed to LIV Golf.
“They’re not true,” he mentioned of the rumors and known as the sources “random people” and “not credible.” He continued. “I’m more than happy where I’m at on the PGA Tour and looking forward to 2025. When I tee it up in Maui, it will all go away, so, I don’t worry about it one bit.”
Tony Finau performs his shot from the cart path alongside the primary fairway in the course of the first spherical of the 2024 Tour Championship. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Finau, 35, mentioned his knee shall be “ready to rock and roll” in time for the Sentry, which begins Jan. 2. For now, Finau remains to be working his method again to full power and was a late scratch final week from the Hero Problem, a match he has competed within the final 4 years with a career-best of second in 2018. He had by no means completed worse than T-7.
“I called Tiger and made sure he knew,” Finau mentioned. “He said, ‘I would’ve told you to do the same thing.’ ”
Finau mentioned the knee had bothered him all season, however he was capable of wait till after taking part in for the victorious U.S. aspect on the Presidents Cup earlier than present process surgical procedure. He didn’t damage his knee on a selected shot, however his physician mentioned the damage was brought on by put on and tear by the years. Particles of cartilage had been floating round in his knee and inflicting irritation. He hasn’t been capable of bend right down to learn putts for a number of years, he mentioned.
Finau had the same concern together with his proper knee in earlier seasons however opted out of surgical procedure on his proper knee, selecting to do remedy and coaching.
Finau is at present scheduled to compete within the Grant Thornton Invitational, a crew occasion with the LPGA the place he’s paired with Nelly Korda. Finau is a Grant Thornton ambassador and whereas taking part in two weeks in a row appeared to be an excessive amount of too quickly, he mentioned his knee is enhancing and mentioned he’s 50-50 for subsequent week, noting he’s nonetheless having hassle getting out of bunkers and placing weight on his lead leg on bunker photographs.
“That’s my biggest issue right now,” he mentioned. “I’ll go over and practice the next couple of days and see how I feel and make a decision.”
However Finau is happy with the progress his knee is making and is assured he shall be able to go on the PGA Tour in January.
“The last couple of seasons have been kind of rough with my knees,” he mentioned. “I’m optimistic about this coming season about being more fully healthy than ever.”
