Finau and Simpson fire in Phoenix to tee up Sunday scrap

Arizona, February 2: Tony Finau and Webb Simpson lit up the Phoenix Open with a gripping tussle at the top of the leaderboard on moving day. Both Finau, who played the 16th hole again wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey, and Simpson executed some stunning shots to thrill a raucous Saturday crowd. powered by Rubicon Project It was Finau – enjoying a strong start to the 2020 season – who headed into the final round with a one-shot lead, though, courtesy of his blistering nine-under 62.

The world number 13 was matched stride for stride by Simpson, playing one hole back, until the latter’s poor tee shot at the 17th led to a bogey that belatedly opened up a narrow gap. Up to that point, the pair had delighted the assembled spectators, Finau’s most outstanding stretch seeing three birdies and an eagle across five holes from the 12th. Finau, who turned in 31 and went bogey-free throughout, might have had his second eagle of the day and second in three holes at the 15th, yet an eight-foot putt drifted agonisingly to the right. “That was probably the most enjoyable round I’ve ever had on a golf course,” he told Sky Sports. “I had so much fun out there.”