The 2018 US Ryder Cup team is complete, with captain Jim Furyk announcing Tony Finau as his final wild-card pick on Monday after the conclusion of the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour.
"He has an unbelievable body of work this year," said Furyk. "All those top-10 finishes, the play in big championships and the Majors, and then his current form, a second, a fourth and an eighth in the playoffs. He checked a lot of boxes and made it impossible not to pick him."
The announcement was extended a day after the final round from Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia was delayed due to poor weather. However, when the rain dried and dust settled in the third leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, Finau was the logical choice, besting Xander Schauffele, who was the only other potential reasonable pick to make the team.
BMW Championship winner Keegan Bradley garnered some very late buzz on Monday, particularly after he beat new world No. 1 Justin Rose in a playoff to capture his first PGA Tour win in 6 years. However, that wasn't nearly enough evidence to make Furyk change his mind.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Finau. “I got the goosebumps when he told me, and I’m excited to add my skills and talent to the team, a team that’s stacked already. Hopefully I bring something to the team that can help us bring that Cup back.”
Finau has been a stud in 2018. He finished in the top 10 in the first three majors of the year. He was the only player to finish in the top 10 in the first three FedEx Cup playoff events. He was tied with Dustin Johnson for the most top-10 finishes this season on the PGA Tour, and his length is a particular asset in fourball matches in Paris.
The Utah native is the third American rookie in the 2018 Ryder Cup, joining Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau as debutants at Le Golf National.
