Augusta, Ga. • Spectators entering the gates of Augusta National Golf Club are reminded that running is unacceptable behavior.
Salt Lake City native Tony Finau discovered that the rules also apply to Masters contestants.
Finau injured his left ankle while running down the fairway after making a hole-in-one during Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest late in the afternoon. X-rays were negative and Finau will have an MRI as further examination Thursday morning, according to his coach, Boyd Summerhays. Finau is scheduled to tee off early Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the Masters.
Finau made a hole-in-one during the third round of the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii in January. His celebration was subdued that day, but the casual atmosphere of the Par 3 Contest, with his wife and four children dressed in white jumpsuits and acting as caddies, triggered a demonstrative response.
Finau is “optimistic,” he tweeted. But if he’s forced to miss his Masters debut, Finau would occupy a dubious place in Augusta National lore and join the likes of Arizona Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica and Los Angeles Angels player Kendrys Morales as athletes injured in celebrations.
After his golf ball spun backward into the hole on No. 7 of the Par 3 Course, Finau ran partway to the green, then turned and backpedaled for a few steps as his older children raced toward him. Finau knelt and popped his dislocated ankle back into place, then played the last two holes before leaving the property to have his ankle further examined.
The left ankle is a vital part of a right-handed golfer’s swing, absorbing considerable torque.
Last April, Dustin Johnson was among the pre-tournament favorites before slipping on a staircase of his rental home in August and injuring his back. Johnson warmed up on the driving range, but withdrew shortly before his afternoon tee time.
