Fishburn Falters in Major Debut as Finau Stays Steady at PGA Championship

Former BYU golfer Patrick Fishburn faced a tough start in his first major golf championship at the PGA Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a promising beginning with birdies on holes 14 and 15, Fishburn’s round quickly fell apart. The Ogden native made six consecutive bogeys, followed by additional bogeys on holes 6 and 9, resulting in a disappointing 6-over 77 score in the first round. This left him in 134th place, struggling to make the cut.

Tony Finau’s Strong Start Highlights Contrast with Fishburn and Other Players’ Struggles

In contrast, former Salt Lake City resident Tony Finau had a more successful opening day. Playing in his 36th major and 11th PGA Championship, Finau shot a 1-under 70, placing him tied for 23rd. Although he was 1-over at the turn after starting on the back nine, Finau recovered with a birdie on the challenging second hole and finished strong with birdies on two of his final six holes. He aims to make the cut for the ninth consecutive year at this tournament.

At 1 p.m. MDT, most of the 156-player field was still on the course. Fishburn’s score placed him near the bottom, while Finau was comfortably positioned in the top quarter of players. Another notable player, former PGA champion Phil Mickelson, struggled significantly with an 8-over 79. This contrast highlights the different trajectories for these golfers early in the championship.

Fishburn and Finau’s Friday Tee Times and Goals for Major Championship Progress

For the second round on Friday, Fishburn is scheduled to tee off at 10:41 a.m. MDT alongside Andre Chi and Seamus Power, while Finau will start at 11:58 a.m. MDT with Nicolai Hojgaard and Max Greyserman. Fishburn’s priority will be to recover from his tough opening round and make the cut, while Finau will look to maintain his steady play and possibly contend further.

Tony Finau, ranked 43rd on the FedEx Cup points list, is still chasing his first major championship win. Fishburn, meanwhile, sits at 107th on the points list in his second PGA Tour season. Their performances at this major will be crucial for their standings and momentum as the season progresses.