Why things don’t look good for Tiger and other big Open questions

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Tony Finau came to the Waste Management Phoenix Open riding more of a dubious achievement than a streak, having missed the cut in his last four attempts. Webb Simpson, conversely, had done everything but win it, posting six top-20 finishes. RELATED: Leaderboard | Bryant tribute on 16th hole They will be separated by just a stroke going into Sunday. Finau (62, 16 under) is bidding to win for the first time since the 2016 Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach, while Simpson (64, one back) is still seeking his first victory since the 2018 PLAYERS Championship. “If I want to accomplish the things I feel like I can accomplish, I have to put those types of expectations on myself,� Finau (62) said when asked about winning again after a nearly four-year drought. “I look forward to tomorrow. My game’s in a good place, and I always tell myself whatever happens, you’re going to learn from it and get better and stronger.� Finau leads the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (+9.435) and Scrambling (12/13), and the 62 matched his career low. He hit 12 of 14 fairways after hitting just 13 of 28 the first two days.  But what’s with his record at this rowdy, perfectly manicured course in the desert? “No, it’s crazy,� said Finau, who is coming off a T6 at the Farmers Insurance Open, earlier this week. “I like the golf course. I like the vibe. I like the energy. Just haven’t performed.� Well, now he has. Simpson’s round included an ace at the 196-yard 12th hole. He not only has a good track record at TPC Scottsdale, he came into this week with top-10s in all three of his starts this season. “My first thought was that couldn’t have gone in,� Simpson said of the ace, his third on TOUR, which he made with a 7-iron. “And then it dawned on me they were really excited (in the crowd), so it was fun.� Should he and Finau falter, Hudson Swafford (66) and J.B. Holmes (70), a two-time winner here, are only two off the lead at 14 under par. Xander Schauffele (66, 13 under), who has a history of going low to win, is only three back along with Adam Long (66) and Scott Piercy (68). Simpson leads the field in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (5.939). He finished runner-up here in 2017, and is seeking his sixth TOUR victory. “I’ve learned from every tournament, good or bad,� he said of his close calls, which included a runner-up at The RSM Classic to start his season and a third at the recent Sony Open in Hawaii. “I know what I’ve done wrong in the past, I guess, year, year and a half. “But I’ve also had a few seconds where guys have shot 8- or 9-under,� he added. Other than Simpson’s ace, the shot of the third round was arguably Finau’s tee ball at the rowdy par-3 16th, which he again played wearing the late Kobe Bryant’s jersey. The ball nearly landed in the cup, and he made the five-footer from behind the hole for birdie. “That was quite fun to hit that shot,� Finau said. “And man, I’m pretty happy with being a couple under in that Kobe jersey; looks like I’ll be wearing it tomorrow.�  A massive Los Angeles Lakers fan, Finau spoke about trying to emulate Bryant’s drive, a legacy of “hard work and so much love for your craft that you get lost in your work.� He also may be drawing on his steely resolve at the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, where the U.S. Team roared back on the final day to win a squeaker. Although his record was only 0-1-3, Finau came up clutch, especially as he birdied the last two holes of a Four Ball match in which he and partner Matt Kuchar clawed their way back to tie Byeong Hun An and Adam Scott. Time will tell whether the legacy of Bryant, or memories of clutch play at the Presidents Cup, will steady him enough for his second TOUR win. “I’ve got 18 holes to try and win this golf tournament,� Finau said, “and my expectation is exactly that.�

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Five PGA TOUR-sanctioned events will award spots in next year’s 150th Open at St. Andrews, the R&A announced Wednesday. The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, John Deere Classic, RBC Canadian Open, Genesis Scottish Open and Barbasol Championship are all part of the 2022 Open Qualifying Series schedule. The Arnold Palmer Invitational, John Deere Classic and Genesis Scottish Open will each offer three qualifying places. Two berths in The Open will be available at the RBC Canadian Open, which will be played for the first time since 2019, and the Barbasol Championship will offer the final spot into the field at St. Andrews. The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard will be played March 3-6 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. The RBC Canadian Open is scheduled for June 9-12 at Toronto’s St. George’s Golf & Country Club. The Deere will be played June 30-July 3, two weeks prior to The Open, at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. The Barbasol Championship and Genesis Scottish Open will be played concurrently in the week before the year’s final major. Both events are co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour, meaning they will count toward both tours’ season-long points races, the FedExCup and Race to Dubai. The Barbasol Championship will be played at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky, while The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, will host the Genesis Scottish Open. The DP World Tour’s Irish Open and Dutch Open will both award three spots into The Open. The 2022 Open Qualifying Series is comprised of 16 events in 11 countries. Three players have already booked their places through the Joburg Open, the first event in the Series, which was played in South Africa last month. The SMBC Singapore Open will be the next chance for golfers to qualify for the milestone championship at the Home of Golf when it is played at Sentosa from Jan. 20-23. A minimum of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour, Korean Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Sunshine Tour. For the first time, the New Zealand Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia will feature as part of the Series when it is played at Millbrook in Queenstown from March 31-April 3. Three qualifying places will be offered at New Zealand’s national championship. Four places will be on offer at the Mizuno Open in Japan and two places at the KOLON Korea Open. Regional Qualifying events will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland on June 20. A minimum of 12 places will then be available at Final Qualifying events taking place at Fairmont St. Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s and St. Annes Old Links on June 28. The R&A has also published the list of exemptions that will be used to confirm the field for The 150th Open at St Andrews. Please visit TheOpen.com for more information.

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