Tony Finau’s ending the 2020 Masters on No. 9 was one last reminder that he failed to contend for the green jacket, but he left Augusta National Golf Club with the satisfaction of a strong finish.
The West High School graduate rallied with three birdies on his second nine Sunday, posting an even-par 72 in the final round for a 1-under total and a tie for 38th place with Tiger Woods, among others.
Sandy resident Mike Weir settled for a closing 76 and a tie for 51st at 2 over, after making the 36-hole cut for only the second time in his last 10 appearances in the Masters.
Golfers including Finau and Weir, in the bottom of the remaining field, began Sunday’s play on No. 10. Finau birdied the par-5 No. 13, but he got into trouble on the par-4 No. 14 and eventually three-putted for a double bogey. He hit his second shot into the pond on the par-5 No. 15, resulting in a bogey, and also bogeyed No. 17.
He recovered with birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 8 (where he lipped out a long eagle attempt) to salvage an even-par round and move up after starting the day in a tie for 44th.
The 50-year-old Weir entered the final round in a tie for 36th and could have posted his best Masters finish since 2008 if he had held that position. He birdied Nos. 12 and 2, but made three bogeys on each nine after having shot even par or better in each of the first three rounds.
Weir’s rookie season of PGA Tour Champions competition has ended. He’ll return to that circuit in 2021, while annually remaining eligible for the Masters as the tournament’s 2003 winner.
Finau can keep coming to Augusta National for at least as long as he remains in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (he stood 17th last week). He’s not entered in this week’s PGA Tour stop in Georgia; one event will follow on the 2020 calendar. Finau is eligible for the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January, via a temporary field-filling provision that includes the 30 contestants in the 2020 Tour Championship.