[PHOTO: Vaughn Ridley]
Tony Finau has pulled out of the Hero World Challenge.
Finau was removed from Tiger Woods’ exhibition event in the Bahamas on Sunday night, local time. As of this morning, Australian time, no reason was given from Finau or the PGA Tour for his withdrawal.
Finau had five top-10s in 22 events this season, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, and reached the Tour Championship. Finau also appeared for the United States at the 2024 Presidents Cup, going 2-2-0 in the Americans’ victory over the Internationals in Montreal. He has not played a PGA Tour event, however, since the Presidents Cup, and as of writing isn’t registered for the season-opening 2025 Sentry, a signature event on tour that’s a limited field, no-cut tournament.
The 35-year-old is coming off his 10th season on tour, accumulating five wins and more than $US43 million in official earnings across 260 starts.
Though the Hero is not an official PGA Tour event, it does award Official World Golf Ranking points, as well as guaranteed payouts. Sepp Straka will replace Finau in the field. Straka is a two-time tour winner who appeared in last year’s Ryder Cup for Europe.
Jason Day, who competed in Brisbane at the BMW Australian PGA Championship two weeks ago, is the lone Australian in the Hero field.
