Utah Sports World React To Tony Finau’s Second PGA Tour Victory
Aug 23, 2021, 6:03 PM
Tony Finau of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning in a playoff during the final round of THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs, at Liberty National Golf Club on August 23, 2021 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The news that Tony Finau secured his second PGA Tour victory broke quickly amongst the relevant sporting celebrities in Utah.
Finau’s Utah’s relevance was solidified when social media broke into a frenzy of congratulations for the Salt Lake City native.
Mitchell, Smith
Utah’s most loveable athlete Donovan Mitchell was fast to congratulate Finau.
Big Time @tonyfinaugolf congrats!!!! https://t.co/G1hVRVQtin
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 23, 2021
Jazz owner and good friend of Finau Ryan Smith also unloaded a number of posts congratulating Finau.
So freaking happy for this man…. pic.twitter.com/QWE037LA6V
— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) August 23, 2021
My guy @tonyfinaugolf Unreal!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/EAkFqvu0Rh
— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) August 23, 2021
BYU Love
The flurry of excitement continued when BYU Head Coach was seen on camera watching the final putt of the tournament for Finau drop. Sitake was wearing a Tony Finau Foundation shirt.
When my boss @kalanifsitake calls me to the locker room to watch @tonyfinaugolf for da win Baby!!!
CHEEEEEHOHOOOO!!!! pic.twitter.com/AlHMvGsG49— Jack Damuni (@JackDamuni) August 23, 2021
“Lets go Tony! Love you bro,” Sitake said in the video alongside BYU’s Executive Coordinator of On-campus Recruiting and Community/Player Relations, Jack Damuni.
Man I’m so fired up for @tonyfinaugolf!! A great representation of so many people and a great example of how to stay classy in sports! Congrats to the best golfer in the world!
— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) August 23, 2021
BYU’s passing game coordinator Fesi Sitake also offered his congratulations.
Whittingham’s Reaction
Utah Football Head Coach Kyle Whittingham, who enjoys spending his spare time on the golf course, looked thrilled when he learned that Finau had won.
You can say that Kyle Whittingham was happy when he found out Tony Finau won. 😂#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/Q5BgTmOLsf
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 23, 2021
“Did he? Yes!” Whittingham emphasized. “How many did he win by? Did Rahm just fall apart?” Whittingham added.
The Finau win has been a reminder of just how small the sporting landscape in Utah is. Every successful player, coach, or mentor that calls Utah home is beloved by other successful sporting figures.
It is special to see the abundance of care that respected sporting figures in the state have for a player who has been through so much.
