“Same Skin Colour’: After Upsetting Nelly Korda, Tony Finau’s Tiger Woods Remark Unveiled His Biggest Move

“I am disappointed to have to withdraw from the Grant Thornton Invitational,” said Tony Finau, expressing his frustration after stepping back from the tournament. The six-time PGA Tour winner had been looking forward to joining hands alongside the top-ranked Nelly Korda in Florida, but his knee injury forced his hand. Last year, Finau and Korda teed off together and carded 23 under par.

Tony Finau announced his withdrawal from the mixed-gender event on December 11th, but he’s still very much present at Tiburon Golf Club. So, what’s he doing there if he’s not playing? Well, it turns out that Finau is the Brand Ambassador for the Grant Thornton Invitational. As he puts it, “I could not miss the opportunity to be here.”

Isn’t that a refreshing take? He shared how incredible it is to witness both men and women competing side by side and achieving record-breaking scores. He called it something “groundbreaking.” While he may be dealing with his own physical pain and some guilt, Finau expressed, “Just being here, being a part of it, means a lot to me.”

It’s truly inspiring to see how, even after stepping back from the second edition of the Grant Thornton Invitational, Finau’s passion for the tournament shines through. When asked about the professional relationships he’s built through the event, he couldn’t help but rave about his former golf partner, Nelly Korda. In fact, he sees her as a role model for his daughters, much like Tiger Woods was for him growing up.

“I started playing golf in the summer of nineteen ninety-seven, and a big reason is a guy named Tiger Woods,” he shared with Mike Wilbon, his eyes lighting up as he reminisced. He still recalls watching Woods dominate tournaments in April ’97 alongside his dad and brother. “I saw somebody that not only looked like me,” he added, cherishing those impactful moments that brought him to where he is today.

For Finau, watching Woods was about so much more than just golf; it was about seeing someone who looked like him taking charge in a sport that faced racial adversity. “He was the same skin color as I was, and that changed everything for me,” Finau remarked, reflecting on how those powerful images shaped his aspirations.

What’s even more heartwarming? Finau sees Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko as similar inspirations for his own daughters. “For my daughter to be able to look at Nelly Korda, to look at Lydia Ko, and to relate to them, I think is really organic for a parent, for someone like me,” he shared passionately. “It’s as a father, not just as an athlete,” he emphasized. You can just feel the pride he has in fostering that connection for his girls!

Tiger Woods’s influence over golf and golfers

While Finau talks about his childhood memories of Tiger Woods, it is not only him who had the 15X Major players as an idol. Take Scottie Scheffler, the 2024 Hero World Challenge winner, who grew up watching Woods and idolizing him since childhood. And why not? The legend has truly revolutionized the golfing world.

Be it making unmatchable records or launching a tech-infused version of Golf. Tier has given all of his to this game, and so has the sport to him. Through his breathtaking performances, the player has earned millions of dollars, making him the first golf billionaire, with a net worth of $1.1 billion.

The golfing legend became interested in the sport at the age of six months after watching his father hit golf balls into a net and imitate his swing. At age four, Woods flaunted his skills out of a bunker in a short game against a 16-year-old and beat him by four strokes. Two months into his professional debut, he won his first Tour event, the Las Vegas Invitational, in October. Since then, the golf pro has gone on to win 82 times, the most any player has ever won.

Do you, too, have an idol from the golf community? Let us know in the comments below!