Tony Finau Opens Up on Ryder Cup 2018 Debut & Missing 2025 Squad ⛳ | Brooks Koepka & Tiger Woods Moment
Tony Finau has faced some of golf’s toughest moments—from majors to the roaring crowds of the Ryder Cup—but nothing compared to his rookie experience at Le Golf National in 2018. 😱🏌️
On Trey Wingo’s podcast, Finau recalls being chosen by Captain Jim Furyk and paired with Brooks Koepka, only to be handed the nerve-wracking honor of hitting the first tee shot. And if that wasn’t enough, Tiger Woods himself added the ultimate pressure with a simple, unforgettable comment:
👉 “Don’t f it up, buddy.”
Despite the nerves, Finau nailed a 300-yard tee shot in the early morning chill, soaking in the unmatched energy of the Ryder Cup crowd. ⚡
But for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Finau won’t be there. The six-time PGA Tour winner missed out on both an automatic spot and a captain’s pick from Keegan Bradley, ending his streak after a challenging season.
📌 In this video, we cover:
• Tony Finau’s Ryder Cup 2018 debut and the first tee shot nerves ⛳
• How Brooks Koepka gave him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity 🏌️♂️
• Tiger Woods’ unforgettable advice that took pressure to another level 🐐
• Why Finau will miss Ryder Cup 2025 and the impact on Team USA 🇺🇸
• His previous Ryder Cup highlights, including key victories in 2021 and 2018 🏆
Even without some of its biggest names, Team USA promises thrilling moments at Bethpage, with world-class commentary bringing every shot to life.
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#TonyFinau #RyderCup2025 #BrooksKoepka #TigerWoods #BethpageBlack #TeamUSA #GolfHighlights #PGA
Tony Fenow has seen it all when it comes to high-pressure golf. From teeing off at majors for over a decade to competing in front of roaring crowds at the Rder Cup, few moments have tested his nerves like his debut at Luke Golf National in Paris in 2018. On this week’s podcast with Trey Wingo, Fenow opened up about that unforgettable experience and the unexpected honor that made his rookie rider cup both exhilarating and nerve dashwacking. I could tee the time. Feno had earned a captain’s pick from Jim Furick after an impressive 2018 season which included 11 top 10 finishes. He was paired with Brooks Kepka fresh off winning multiple majors for the best ball session. I was extremely nervous as I prepared for it, Feno admitted, just trying to make sure I was ready. During practice rounds, the pair initially wanted to tee off first in the morning session, only to have Jordan Speath and Justin Thomas request the spot instead. But the real moment came later that evening. Brooks announces to everyone, “Hey, Tony’s going to be hitting the first he shot.” “I looked at him like, “No, you’re going to hit it,” Fenow recalled. And he said, “No, I want you to hit it.” That was really cool. But I remember thinking, “This is going to be wild.” For the rookie, leading off the RDER Cup was a high pressure assignment made even more intense by Tiger Woods. Tiger taps me on the shoulder and he’s like, “Don’t f it up, buddy.” And walks away. I was already nervous, but hearing that from my childhood hero took it to another level. Despite the jitters, Fenow rose to the occasion. I was ready to rock the next morning. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I imagined, he said. I ended up hitting a 300yd three iron at 700 a.m. 50° right down the middle of the fairway. It was pretty wild. The energy at the first tea was something Phenile says he’ll never forget. I’ve never seen this amount of people or felt this much energy on a t-shot. Once I hit that ball, I was able to settle in. But there’s no feeling like that first T- shot of the RDER Cup. Unfortunately for Fenow, he won’t be experiencing that moment again this year. The sixtime PGA Tour winner will miss his second consecutive RED Cup as captain Keegan Bradley left him off the 2025 US squad that a two-time Ryder Cup veteran with a 33 record, including a key win in team USA’s dominant 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021. Fen now was unable to secure an automatic spot or a captain’s pick this time. His 2025 season fell short of expectations with just one top, 10 finish at the Genesis Invitational, and a 66th place FedEx Cup, standing after five missed cuts in 20 starts. This continued a slide that also saw him omitted from the 2023 team despite winning the Mexico Open. His last RDER Cup performance included teaming with Harris English to defeat Rory Mroy and Shane Lowry in fourball play, demonstrating his ability to shine on golf’s biggest team stage. Adding to the surprise, Brooks Kepka, a five-time major champion and Rder Cup stalward, will also be absent from Team USA’s lineup in 2025. Despite the absence of some of its biggest names, fans can still look forward to a thrilling writer Cup at Beth Page Black with worldclass commentators bringing both expertise and excitement to every moment of the competition. Dot
