Top 10 power rankings in 2022 The American Express

Three out of four cuts made at The American Express is emblematic of the high-level consistency shown throughout Tony Finau’s career. Similarly, he seems to keep maintaining or even improving his form through the years. It paid off last year for his first win since 2016 when he got the monkey off his back by winning The Northern Trust.

Wouldn’t it be fitting to win another “The” tournament here in Palm Springs? The big Utah native debuted here in 2015 by finishing T-59th. After a missed cut in 2016, he took three years off from this event.

Finau finally cracked the code for a high finish in 2020, taking T-14th (69-62-71-69). His 10-under-par 62 set the Nicklaus Tournament Course record. Unfortunately, middling scores of 71-69 on the weekend at the Stadium Course dropped him from contention. Finau was T-2nd in the field in greens in regulation (77.78%). Finau improved from 17-under-par to 19-under in 2021 and up to solo 4th (68-66-67-68).

A four-under 68 on Sunday usually gets it done when you’re the 54-hole leader like he was, but Si-Woo Kim’s 64 to win, Patrick Cantlay’s 71 for second place and Cameron Davis’ 64 for third were tough to beat.

While Finau didn’t have a scorching low round throughout the 2021 tournament like the previous year, he shot a respectable 68-67-68 at the Stadium Course to fix that flaw. If he can get through his first round at this course in good shape, it might be wise to invest some funds on Finau mid-tournament.

“It’s a golf course that fits someone that hits it far,” Finau was transcribed by ASAP Sports. “I can reach all the par-5s on the Stadium. As we know in this game it’s going to come down to scoring and come down to putting, especially on this type of golf course.”

Finau last competed at the Sentry Tournament of Champions where he finished middle of the pack in T-19th (70-69-69-65). He shook off rust early in the tournament before rounding into form by Sunday at this birdie fest of an event.

Scores will be low again this week, so Finau will seek to get in an aggressive mindset sooner. The 32-year-old was 23rd on the PGA Tour last season in birdie average (4.16) and 27th in approach proximity from the fairway (30’7”).

Fairways are relatively easy to hit across PGA West and La Quinta, and misses aren’t penalized as heavily, either. Giving Finau room to hit driver often is a scary concept for the rest of the field. Even leaving some clubhead speed in the tank on most drives, Finau was still 31st (305.5) in driving distance last season.