American Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk said “he checked a lot of boxes and made it impossible not to pick him”.

So unlike European Captain Thomas Bjorn who went for experience, Furyk has picked a player on blistering current form. Finau has finished top 10 in three of this year’s majors and finished 2nd, 4th and 8th in the FedEx Cup playoffs. The World No 17’s only win is the 2016 Puerto Rico Open.

Finau said “I got goosebumps when he told me. I’m excited and hopefully I’ll bring something to the team that can help us bring the cup back”.

A popular player amongst his fellow professionals Finau is of Tongan and Samoan heritage. The 28 year old mormon and his wife have four children.