WATCH: Tony Finau Hits Driver On Iconic Par 3 At Pebble Beach

The American opted for his driver in atrocious conditions at the iconic 106-yard par 3

Tony Finau takes a shot at the seventh hole at Pebble Beach
Tony Finau used his driver on the iconic par 3 seventh at Pebble Beach
(Image credit: Instagram @boydsummerhaysgolf)
Mike Hall
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The PGA Tour’s second signature event of the year, the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, has many of the world’s best players in the field, but even they’re likely to face the sternest possible test of their abilities if the pre-tournament weather is anything to go by.

One of the 80 pros teeing it up at the event is six-time PGA Tour winner Tony Finau, and he took to the course the day before, where he braved some decidedly blustery conditions, to put it lightly.

Video footage originally uploaded to Instagram by golf coach Boyd Summerhays and posted on X by Sports Illustrated's Gabby Herzig shows him taking on the iconic par 3 seventh, which, at a mere 106 yards, is the shortest on the course.

Despite that, many players have famously come a cropper over the years, particularly when the wind gets up. Perhaps mindful of that, Finau didn’t leave anything to chance, and pulled out his driver for his tee shot.

While the start of the footage doesn’t leave the viewer in any doubt just how appalling the conditions were, that was only accentuated by the fact that the ball barely made it over the green, and that’s with a ball speed of 172mph!

All of which begs the question, what kind of challenges will the pros and amateurs playing alongside them face when the action gets underway for real?

A look at the forecast suggests some respite from the brutal conditions is due over the first three rounds, with showers and the occasional thunderstorm the main areas of concern, but keep an eye on Sunday. By then, the heavy rain and strong gusty winds are expected to be back with a vengeance, promising a soggy – and potentially scorecard-wrecking – end to the action.

Finau’s effort is reminiscent of a player who faced similar conditions at the hole towards the end of 2022. Just like the World No.20, he opted for his driver, but fared even better, hitting it to within three feet of the hole, proving that both the hole and the frequently inclement conditions can be quite the leveller.

Finau, who is looking for his first win on the PGA Tour since beating Jon Rahm in decidedly more tranquil conditions at last April’s Mexico Open, begins his opening round at 12.57pm ET (5.57pm GMT).

Mike Hall
Mike Hall
News Writer

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 

He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 

Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.

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