You might remember Tony Finau bombing the opening shot at the 2018 Ryder Cup. But actually, the Ryder Cup rookie wasn’t supposed to take it. At least that’s what he thought. But thanks to Brooks Koepka, the six-time PGA Tour winner had to do the honors.
When captain Jim Furyk asked which team was going to tee up in the first match, Finau and Koepka raised their hands. Rookie mistake! Finau had zero intention of taking the mantle on his shoulder. However, Koepka pushed him. “You are gonna hit the first tee shot.” Tiger Woods got to know about this later that night. His suggestion? “Don’t f*** it up, dude.”
Since Team USA was the away team, the first shot, in their case, was the literal opening shot of the 2018 Ryder Cup. On the opposite side was old-timer, Justin Rose, and a fast-rising Spanish prodigy, Jon Rahm.
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Even though Finau might have been cursing his playing mate the next morning, six years later, he can joke about it. The first tee, a 3-iron bombed to 290 yards, almost bounced to the water. The duo eventually bested the European pairing,
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It might come off as passing the stressful job to your colleague. But hitting the first tee shot in the Ryder Cup is also an honor. “Brooks will always be a homie for that. He told me straight up, like he said, ‘T, I want you to hit it’,” Finau said in a golf cart chat with Grant Horvat on his YouTube channel. In fact, time has only solidified their bond.
Tony Finau and Brooks Koepka are now ‘family friends’
Finau also revealed that their families are quite close as well. Finau’s wife, Alayna, and Jena Sims, Koepka’s model-entrepreneur wife, are quite close to each other as well. Only a few months back, Alayna’s response to an Instagram troll, was lauded by Sims.
In the recent chat, Finau continued, “That’s my dude. He will always be (in) my good graces. Not only for that [2018 Ryder Cup], but our wives are good friends… he’s just a homie for that.”
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Even last year, the six-time PGA Tour winner admitted he missed some players who defected to the LIV Golf. First and foremost, Brooks Koepka. Although Finau himself resisted the temptation to join the PIF-funded side, he reiterated that Koepka was “one of my closest guys on tour.”
Finau’s admiration for Koepka is one of those few instances of friendships sticking on despite the current landscape. Koepka is in fact, a good friend of Rory McIlroy as well. The admiration is mutual. As is Collin Morikawa’s respect for Dustin Johnson. PGA of America has announced LIV Golfers will have a chance to be a part of the 2025 Ryder Cup. Another Koepka-Finau pairing is something both will look forward to.
