How Tony Finau’s ranking has plummeted during 2025, after starting the year in 26th place

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Five years ago, Tony Finau was seen as one of golf’s rising stars.

After playing alongside Tiger Woods at the 2019 Masters, Woods predicted a major championship was in Finau’s future. That hasn’t happened. He hasn’t won since 2023, and this season, things have only gotten worse.

Finau showed some early warning signs in 2025, but he still had plenty of respect across the sport. Two wins in 2023 and five top-10s the following year helped him stay ranked inside the Data Golf top-20 going into that season.

But this year, his play completely fell apart. The six-time PGA Tour winner dropped quickly down those rankings.

Where Tony Finau finished in the 2025 World Golf Rankings

Finau managed just one top-five finish in 2025, missed five cuts, and his best major showing was a T19 at the US Open. That form saw him drop from 20th to 147th in the Data Golf rankings by the end of the year.

If he doesn’t turn things around soon, his Official World Golf Ranking could also become a real issue. He began the year ranked 26th but has now slipped all the way down to 80th.

With the PGA Tour reducing fully exempt cards to just 100 players—down from 125—Finau’s place is under threat. Another poor season could see him fall out of that group and lose his full exemption for good.

The PGA Tour has made changes to increase star power at events, but this shift could mean one of their most recognisable names isn’t guaranteed full exemption for every event in 2027.

Biggest drops in the 2025 Data Golf Rankings

This season hasn’t gone smoothly for several of golf’s biggest names. Collin Morikawa’s Ryder Cup spot was questioned following a stretch of poor results, while Xander Schauffele has only recently steadied himself with a win in Japan.

Sahith Theegala has also had a tough year, dropping from 32nd to 155th in the rankings. LIV Golf players haven’t been immune to struggles either. Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka have slipped to 140th and 159th respectively.

Sungjae Im, who began the year ranked 12th, has dropped to 109th after missing eight cuts. It’s a reminder that maintaining form in golf is never easy, and it remains to be seen who else might slip down the rankings as the season goes on.