April 2, 2026, 5:13 p.m. ET
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Tony Finau admits that though he’s competing this week in the Lone Star State, Georgia is on his thoughts.
TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course is the website of this week’s Valero Texas Open, and it’s additionally the last-chance saloon for gamers dreaming of a likelihood of enjoying in the 90th version of the Masters, which begins a week from immediately. Finau is trying to lengthen his streak of enjoying at Augusta National to 9 straight years, however to achieve this he’ll want to win to be in. He took care of a good begin thanks to a 6-under 66 on Thursday to share the first-round lead with Davis Thompson.
“Sure, I’m thinking of it,” Finau mentioned. “That’s the place to be.”
Finau is coming off a winless season final yr and has had to ask for invitations into the signature occasions after ending outdoors the prime 50 on the cash, which snapped his streak of appearances at the Tour Championship at eight in a row. He’s made six of 9 cuts this season and sits No. 58 in the FedEx Cup standings however has but to end in the prime 10 (a T-11 at the Farmers Insurance Open is his finest end result.)
“I feel like I’m really close to putting together a string of good golf tournaments. I’ve had some good days during tournaments, whether that’s in the first round, the final round, but I haven’t been able to put together I feel like really strong finishes and four days of good golf,” he mentioned. “So I’m off to a good start this week. I’ll just be looking to capitalize on three more days of good golf.”
Starting on the again 9, Finau scratched and clawed for a couple of key par saves to start and nailed his tee shot to 9 ft at 13 for his first birdie. Then he poured in a 41-foot eagle putt at the par-5 14th. He made his lone bogey of the day at No. 1 however total was happy together with his efficiency. Finau switched to a Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally putter earlier this season and credited it for his scorching begin.
“I feel like I’m really close to putting together a string of good golf tournaments. I’ve had some good days during tournaments, whether that’s in the first round, the final round, but I haven’t been able to put together I feel like really strong finishes and four days of good golf. So I’m off to a good start this week. I’ll just be looking to capitalize on three more days of good golf.”
A streak of 33 straight majors – starting at the 2017 U.S. Open – could possibly be in jeopardy, however Finau refuses to go quietly.
