Tony Finau was one of the most promising stars in the sport just half a decade ago.
Tiger Woods said Tony Finau would win a major after their battle at the 2019 Masters, but so far, he’s been proven dead wrong. He hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2023 and suffered a dramatic fall from grace this season.
Going into 2025, Finau was showing signs of losing form, but he was still considered one of the better players in professional golf. He was ranked 20th in the Data Golf rankings in January, having won twice in 2023 and recorded five top-10 finishes in 2024.
But in 2025, the six-time PGA Tour winner’s form disappeared, leaving him to tumble down those rankings at a rapid pace.
How far Tony Finau fell in the World Golf Rankings in 2025
In 2025, Finau had one top-five finish, missed the cut five times, and his best finish at a major championship was a T19 at the US Open. Because of that, he fell to 147 in the Data Golf rankings after starting the year in 20th.
And if Finau can’t correct his form, then his place in the Official World Golf Rankings could become a major concern for him. He started the year in 26th, and is now ranked 80th.
Now that the PGA Tour has reduced the number of fully exempt cards to 100 players, down from 125 last season, players such as Finau could be in real trouble moving forward. Another poor season could easily see him fall out of the top 100 and therefore lose his fully exempt card.
Do you think the PGA Tour reducing the amount of cards for 2026 to 100 is a good thing?
The PGA Tour has made changes to increase the amount of star power playing at events, but this change in particular could see one of their most recognisable names, Finau, not exempt from every event in the 2027 season.
Other big fallers in the Data Golf rankings in 2025
It’s been a difficult year for many of golf’s biggest names. Collin Morikawa’s Ryder Cup selection was questioned after the two-time major winner’s recent performances. Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele only just corrected his form with a win in Japan.
But after Finau, the biggest faller in the Data Golf rankings this year was Sahith Theegala, who is now ranked 155 after starting the year in 32nd.
Some LIV Golf stars have had poor seasons to see them tumble down the rankings. Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka are now ranked 140th and 159th in the world, respectively.
Meanwhile, Sungjae Im, who was ranked 12th at the start of 2025, is now ranked 109th after an inconsistent season in which the Korean missed eight cuts.
This shows how fragile form really is in golf. Who will be the next golfers to fall from grace remains to be seen.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
