Home state pressure can be both a blessing and a curse. Tony Finau knows the worst of it. After the Utah-born golfer opted out of the Bank of Utah Championship for the second year in a row, fans have turned to a more critical approach towards Finau. Some have crossed the line, going as far as threatening the golfer online. Throwing light on these hostile conditions, Finau’s wife has addressed these negative comments on Instagram.

Tony’s wife, Alayna Finau, recently posted an ‘Ask Me Anything’ on Team Finau’s Instagram story. One anonymous user asked: “Why doesn’t Tony play in the Black Desert Utah tournament?”

“Last yr he was coaching our son in his golf tournament. This year, he is recovering from surgery. Hope this answers all of our DMs that are threatening us about that. Costs nothing to be kind people 😉,” she responded on her story.

Even though she replied with her signature grace and a little snark, it doesn’t wash away the seriousness of the issue. While it’s common for us to root for our favorite golfers, where do we draw the line? Finau’s case is clearly a breach of boundaries, with home-state fans feeling entitled to his performance. As Alayna noted, it’s not always possible for him to deliver that given different circumstances.

For instance, when the Bank of Utah Championship debuted last year, Tony Finau was the course favorite. But his presence was painfully missed when Finau decided he had other places to be. The Utah golfer was at Frisco, Texas, coaching his 12-year-old son, Jraice. The teen was about to compete for Team Utah in the 13U PGA Junior League Championship, and Finau reiterated, “But I can’t miss my son’s tournament.”

Even though Finau admitted that he was under pressure to compete in the tournament, the father prioritised his family over his career. “I’m a dad, a husband, and a professional golfer, in that order,” Finau shared his priorities.

However, while family reasons put the 36-year-old out of the Black Desert Course in 2024, it is something different this year. As Alayna revealed, the golfer is recovering from surgery. While what injury he sustained was not revealed, his wife posted a picture of Finau stretching in the home training setup. Apparently, in the picture, Finau wore a white sleeve on his right ankle, suggesting it might be an ankle injury.

However, more convincingly, Finau’s torn meniscus injury that he sustained last year on October 15th looks to be a bigger obstacle. He underwent surgery to repair his left knee and remove cartilage, which he noted as “a lot tougher” than expected. However, it appears the surgery hasn’t fully recovered yet.

In June this year, Finau withdrew from the Rocket Mortgage Classic, owing to recovery and rehab. “This tournament and this community mean a lot to me, so I’m bummed to share that I won’t be competing this week due to some needed rest and recovery,” noted Finau in a post. Whether his knee surgery was the main reason for his pulling out is not yet confirmed. However, given the gruelling time periods a knee surgery can take to heal, it’s a distinct possibility.

But a look at the issue uncovers the darker side of celebrity exposure in golf. While Tony Finau struggled with threats on DMs, this is unfortunately not the only time this has happened in golf.

Rickie Fowler also faced similar online harassment as Tony Finau

When your fame fires back on you, it isn’t the prettiest situation. That’s what Rickie Fowler went through earlier this year. After the golf star finished outside the FedEx Cup top 50 last season, Fowler was ineligible for the 2025 PGA Tour’s eight signature events. Still, he received sponsors’ exemptions to six of those limited-field events. That brought him under media attention for taking away spots from those deserving just by being a big name on the field.

This debate took a toxic turn when one user, named Cliff C., began harassing the golfer online. The Instagram user was a faceless account that began sending horrific messages to Fowler. While he initially ignored these DMs, Fowler eventually had enough.

“Cliff, or whoever you are, you know where to find me, and I’d love to see you face-to-face. You’re the one hiding behind your little fake account…I’m sure your significant others are so thrilled with how you’ve done in life…enjoy your Sunday evening,” Fowler replied, exposing the user and their messages.

This storyline began making waves on the internet, and needless to mention, the harassment stopped soon. However, this brings forward the disturbing reality of social media in sports. Paige Spiranac is not alien to this concept either, receiving death threats online.

Rickie Fowler’s and Tony Finau’s experience shows how quickly online discourse can devolve. But where does one draw the line between criticism and harassment?