‘Cry Baby’: Distraught Fans Worry About Nelly Korda as Tony Finau’s Move Breaks Their Hearts

The Grant Thornton Invitational is all set to kick start at the Tiburon Golf Club in just a few hours. This will be the second edition, where the LPGA Tour members will be teaming up with the PGA Tour pros to have a game of team play. While the entire golf community is excited for this event to begin, Tony Finau dropped a bomb that has left everyone concerned.

Nelly Korda was paired with Tony Finau, just like last year. The team finished at T4 in 2023 and was hoping to win the trophy this year. However, her partner recently announced he will be withdrawing from the Grant Thornton Invitational. As a result, Nelly will now be teaming up with Daniel Berger. He has also been dealing with a knee injury for two straight weeks now. The PGA Tour Pro even withdrew from the Hero World Challenge last week for the same reason.

“I am disappointed to withdraw from the Grant Thornton Invitational as I continue to recover from my knee injury. Playing with Nelly in 2023 was one of the highlights of my year. I look forward to cheering her on this week and am thankful for her support and understanding as I work on getting fully healthy. I’m grateful to my partner in Grant Thornton for their support and for diversifying our game by bringing the PGA TOUR and LPGA together in Naples. I look forward to returning to competition in the new year!” Tony Finau wrote on his official X account announcing the sad news.

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Field Update: 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational pic.twitter.com/BAxmSopDzR

— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) December 11, 2024

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The fans were really hoping to see the pair compete together since Nelly Korda had to stay out of the field due to a neck injury for two months after the Kroger Queen City Championship. She came back for The ANNIKA and the Tour Championship, and it has once again been a month since they have seen him play. On the other hand, Finau last appeared at the Tour Championship in September and has been off the course ever since. However, this was not a complete surprise for the people.

Golf Community suspects Tony Finau to move to LIV Golf
Tony Finau had earlier stated that he went through a knee surgery on October 15, and it was a basic one. However, he planned to return to the PGA Tour on January 2 for the 2025 season. But this did not come out as convincing to the golf world. After he withdrew from the elite event last week, they had already assumed that just like Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka did last year, he is also all set to divert to LIV Golf from the next season. And they are just waiting for the right time to make the announcement. Talking about this, people left comments like, “He gone” and “Ow, my knee! It’s tough walking around with all these Saudi stacks in my hip pockets!”

What’s your perspective on:
Is Tony Finau’s withdrawal a genuine injury concern, or is he eyeing a lucrative LIV Golf switch?

Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda have both had a year beyond extraordinary. Both of them broke the record for the highest number of victories in a season. While Scottie Scheffler stands tall with a whopping seven PGA Tour victories and an International gold medal from the Paris Olympics, Nelly Korda too grabbed a staggering seven victories on the Tour. She was once even told that she is the female version of Scottie Scheffler, and not to forget both are No. 1. Taking to this, one of them expressed, “I know it won’t happen but imagine if Scottie replaced Finau and paired with Nelly.”

While the Grant Thornton Invitational offers a unique and exciting format with mixed teams, some fans might not be fully on board. Some find the unfamiliar scramble and alternate shot formats less appealing than traditional individual stroke play. Additionally, the smaller field size compared to major tournaments can be less exciting for some. However, many fans appreciate the fresh dynamic and the opportunity to see top male and female golfers compete together. Taking to this, one fan wrote, “This tournament sucks a**holes”. While another one disappointed with the news, simply commented, “Tony just a crybaby”.