Utah’s Tony Finau loses ground at British Open, will need a sensational final round to finish in top 10 again

United States’ Tony Finau plays out of a bunker on 12th hole during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George’s golf course Sandwich, England, Saturday, July 17, 2021. | Ian Walton, Associated Press

Louis Oosthuizen, Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa among the leaders at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England

Utah’s Tony Finau will have to make up a lot of ground on Sunday if he hopes for another high finish in The Open Championship.

Finau made three birdies in his third round Saturday at Royal St. George’s, but also had five bogeys and slid down the leaderboard on a picture perfect day in Sandwich, England.

Finau was tied for 33rd when he finished, some 16 spots down from where he started the day.

He drove the ball reasonably well, hitting eight of 14 fairways, but couldn’t capitalize. He hit 13 of 18 greens.

Having made the cut Friday for the 15th time in his last 17 majors, Finau shot 2-over 72 on a day when leaders such as Louis Oosthuizen, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth kept the pedal to the metal.

Finau finished in the top 10 of his last two British Opens, a third-place finish in 2019 at Royal Portrush and a tie for ninth in 2018 at Carnoustie. The tournament was not held last year due to the pandemic.

Saturday, he made birdies on holes 4, 13 and 14. His bogeys came on holes 3, 7, 11, 15 and 18.

Thursday, Finau was 2-under par before making a double-bogey on No. 18.

The former West High graduate was not accompanied by his swing coach, Boyd Summerhays, this week. Summerhays has never made the trip across the ocean to watch Finau play in The Open.

Earlier this week, Summerhays watched his son, Preston, play in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship on an exemption after winning the Barbasol Junior.

Preston Summerhays did not make the cut, which came at 4-under. He shot 2-under.

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