Tony Finau confirmed his intention to remain on the PGA Tour.
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In the newest activate skilled golf’s rumor carousel, Tony Finau is planning to play the PGA Tour in 2024.
And Jon Rahm isn’t.
And ’spherical and ’spherical it goes.
When Rahm introduced on Thursday that he’d be leaving the PGA Tour for LIV, golf followers immediately questioned who’d be subsequent. Some of the loudest rumors immediately surrounded Finau, who’s Rahm’s shut good friend and frequent sparring accomplice at residence in Arizona. The Telegraph was amongst these to report Finau was in talks to hitch Rahm’s group. Social media hypothesis ran wild from there.
Finau, who was in rivalry on the Grant Thornton Invitational over the weekend, voiced his assist for Rahm.
“Yeah, I think he made the best decision that he felt was right for his family and himself,” Finau told Sports Illustrated on Friday. “I’m happy for him.”
As for his personal future? Finau didn’t take a tough stance.
“No, not yet. I haven’t let anything marinate other than just playing right now,” he told SI. His group instructed GOLF the same story: simply hypothesis.
But previously, a non-denial has typically preceded a departure for LIV. Finau’s no-comment was seen by means of the lens that has given us Cameron Smith, who issued a couple of month’s-worth of “no comments” earlier than his departure for LIV final fall.
That wasn’t the case for Finau, who posted to Instagram on Monday afternoon squashing LIV rumors and declaring his intentions to be a PGA Tour member come 2024.
“As this year comes to an end I’m grateful to play the game that I love and to have the opportunity to compete at the highest level,” Finau wrote in what amounted to a year-end reflection submit.
“I’m excited for 2024 and looking out ahead to taking part in my tenth season on the PGA Tour! And stoked to be defending in each Mexico and Houston!
“Thank you to my companions to your continued assist. Thank you to the followers for all of the love for our complete Finau fam🙏🏾
“See y’all in Maui! 🤙🏾”
Maui refers back to the Sentry, the primary occasion of the 2024 PGA Tour season. Finau added the hashtag #imnotleaving for emphasis.
Notably absent from the Sentry, nonetheless, might be its defending champion.
Jon Rahm was formally suspended by the PGA Tour in a memo despatched to gamers from Tour directors — a memo first posted by Monday Q Info and later obtained by GOLF.
The memo introduced that it might be adjusting FedEx Cup eligibility “based on the recent announcement made by Jon Rahm.”
“In accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations, Jon Rahm as been notified that he is suspended and no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play due to his association with a series of unauthorized tournaments,” the memo learn.
That cleared up some questions that had existed surrounding Rahm’s eligibility, like whether or not he’d be allowed to compete on the PGA Tour till he truly teed it up in his first LIV occasion. It additionally clarified that Rahm’s suspension would bump up the gamers behind him on the FedEx Cup factors record.
That had vital ramifications for gamers under him on the FedEx Cup record. Mackenzie Hughes jumped to No. 50, punching his ticket to each Signature Event in 2024. Alex Smalley moved as much as No. 60, incomes a spot within the Genesis Invitational. Carl Yuan moved to No. 125, permitting him to maintain his card. And Paul Haley moved as much as No. 150, permitting him to take care of conditional standing.
There are extra rumors about extra gamers leaving for LIV, after all. That means current gamers may see their standing proceed to enhance. And it means gamers who’re considering the transfer can count on an instantaneous suspension, too.
Of course, there stays the chance that the 2 sides will attain an settlement, too, particularly after the PGA Tour’s Policy Board introduced it had moved ahead with an funding group and was trying to additional negotiations with the PIF.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governer (and LIV chairman) Yasir Al-Rumayyan are anticipated to fulfill this week.
They ought to have a lot to speak about.
