Acting veteran Tony Finau looking for better performances on the course

When Tony Finau was asked to play himself in the upcoming film “Happy Gilmore 2,” the PGA veteran didn’t have to think long about saying yes.
“I had never been a part of anything like that,” Finau said. “My short cameo in ‘Happy Gilmore 2′ was fun to be a part of, fun to shoot with Adam Sandler. To be asked to even do it was really an honor, being a huge ‘Happy Gilmore’ fan growing up.”
But despite the thrill of getting to take part in something new by starring in a Hollywood movie set to debut this weekend, Finau admitted to reporters Wednesday in advance of the 3M Open – also occurring this weekend — that he is looking for something more familiar: a good feeling about his play on the golf course.
“I just know this one hasn’t felt like a successful season to me. I haven’t played my best golf,” Finau said. “I feel like when I’ve played golf, when I’ve played well, I haven’t been able to finish off tournaments. So, I just don’t feel like I’ve gotten a lot out of my game this year.
“I think obviously wins are the easiest way to look back and say, ‘all right, this was a successful season,’ but I’ve had a lot of seasons that I finished and I thought even though I didn’t win, it was a very successful season. I guess I’m more of a feel guy, at the end of the year I kind of just know if I had a season that was worth remembering or forgetting.”
The numbers back those feelings up.
Finau, who is tied with Xander Schauffele as the active leaders with the most consecutive TOUR Championship berths (eight and counting), is finding that streak to be in jeopardy this season. He is currently just 59th in the FedExCup standings, with no wins under his belt for the second straight year after a run of four championships over the previous two-year period.
Finau knows some good golf in the short term can net him a Top 50 finish to lock him in for next year’s signature events and inch him closer to a potential trip to East Lake for the TOUR Championship late next month.
“It’s definitely in the back of my mind because I know how important that top-50 number is, has become on the PGA TOUR. So it’s definitely something in the back of my mind, but that’s really where it is, it’s back. At the forefront of my mind this week is playing good golf and that’s in my experience, you know, if you play good golf it always — things always take care of themselves.”
He opened strong at The Open last week with two rounds under par before falling out of contention with two pedestrian follow-up rounds.
He’s taking a positive mindset from that experience. That might well be justified. Finau has played all six editions of the 3M Open and never finished worse than T28.
“I’m optimistic about the week. I had a nice start to the week last week at The Open, didn’t have the weekend that I was hoping for. A lot of positives to build from and build on from last week and looking forward to just progressing my way into this weekend.”