HOUSTON — Tony Finau equaled his best score on the PGA Tour with an 8-under-par 62 on Friday, leading by two shots going into the weekend with hopes of winning back-to-back — 16 months apart — in the Houston Open.
Scottie Scheffler ended his streak of 28 under-par rounds with a miss from 22 inches on his final hole. The double bogey from a 6-foot putt resulted in an even-par 70, leaving him four behind in his attempt for a third consecutive PGA Tour victory.
Following his first round, Finau spent time improving his putting with coach Boyd Summerhays, and it was successful. He made three putts from about 25 feet or longer, and chipped in from 40 feet for an eagle on the par-5 eighth.
Finau narrowly missed a 15-foot putt on his last hole at the par-3 ninth, knowing it would have been his lowest round on the PGA Tour. He was very pleased with a 62, marking the sixth time he has achieved that score, most recently in the last Houston Open.
“I hit some nice shots, but it was mostly just draining some putts from long distance,” Finau stated. “I chipped in for eagle on 8. Next thing you know I’m like, ‘Wow, 8 under.’ So it’s strange how this game works, but you’re never thinking ahead too much.”
Finau was at 9-under 131.
Alejandro Tosti, a PGA Tour newcomer from Argentina, had a 67 and was two shots behind. Thomas Detry of Belgium shot 64 and was three behind.
Finau won the Houston Open in November 2022 and had to wait 16 months to defend because of the tournament’s move to the spring ahead of the Masters. It was Bermuda grass in the fall, and now lush and overseeded with limited rough.
Finau did most of his damage with the putter. He opened with a 69 on Thursday and then went straight to the practice green with Summerhays.
“He noticed a little setup change that he mentioned that might help,” Finau said. “I’d say it definitely helped today.”
Scheffler faced the strong wind in the afternoon and was holding his own, challenging Finau for the lead. But on the par-5 16th, he hit 7-iron off the bank and into the water, leading to a scramble for par. He then made an excellent approach to 4 feet for birdie on the 17th, putting him 2 under for his round and two behind Finau.
And then it all changed. Scheffler found a bunker, blasted out and nearly holed it. His par putt from 6 feet spun around the cup, and he went to tap in from 22 inches only for it to veer off course and catch the right lip.
“Frustrating lapse in judgment there,” Scheffler said. “Felt like I hit a good putt on the first one, maybe went just barely through the break so obviously it was a bit frustrating hitting a good putt and it not going in. Second one, I guess just hit a little fast and didn’t see a spike mark.”
Tom Hoge recovered from a slow start with a 66 and was in the group at 3-under 137. Hoge needs to finish alone in fifth to have a mathematical chance to get into the top 50 in the world ranking after this week. That would earn him a trip to the Masters.
U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark has been dealing with a back issue from working out earlier in the week. He finished with a bogey for the second straight round, having to settle for a 68 that left him seven shots behind Finau.
They competed in the same group, and Clark had a good view of an excellent round.
“We were teasing because I had to move his coin (on the green) about four or five times today,” Clark stated. “I hit the putt, missed, and then he made it. I kept telling him I was giving him assists. That being said, he hit it amazingly and then made a lot of putts. So it was enjoyable to watch.”
Wilson Furr, who was tied for the lead after 18 holes with Taylor Moore, did not score a birdie in his round of 75 and dropped eight shots behind Finau.
