Tony Finau was swarmed by protestors at his charity golf event Monday in Utah who demanded he “pay his debts,” which is allegedly in in the millions.
The individuals camped outside of Oakridge Country Club for two and a half hours for Finau’s annual golf tournament and clinic, according to the Deseret News.
They allege that they have not been paid back for helping him on his path to stardom.
One sign read, “Keep Your Word’, while others included “Tony Pay Your Debts,” “Tony Pay Your Family Back” and “Tony Don’t Forget Uncle Toa.”
“This is all about awareness,”protest organizer Rocky Bowlby, who claims he’s owed more than $100,000 for loans, rent, cars and airfare by Finau’s family, told the outlet. “No one knows the real Tony.”
Finau’s rise to stardom in the golf world has put him in the crosshairs of multiple lawsuits, with individuals alleging the 34-year-old is faulty in terms of paying his debts that land in the millions.
He reportedly showed up about two hours after the protest started Monday and gave the protesting crew the cold shoulder upon arrival.
Some of the signs displayed Monday focused on the Utah native’s Tony Finau Foundation, along with the Utah Sports Comission.
Bowlby said there are more than 10 people to whom Finau owes money, including former Utah football player Molonai Hola.
Hola, described by the paper as a family friend and former business associate, previously filed a 2020 lawsuit alleging he is owed more than $600,00 for helping back Finau and his brother Gipper’s careers from 2006-09, before Finau become a member of the PGA Tour.
He also is seeking 20 percent of Finau’s career winnings, per court documents seen by the paper.
Finau has made roughly $55.6 million in his career, per Spotrac.com, meaning Hola is asking for north of $11 million. An eight-day jury trial is set for September, according to the the Deseret News.
A separate 2021 lawsuit featured Utah County real estate developer David Hunter, although that one was dismissed by a district court one year later, per the newspaper.
Hunter requested repayment of an interest-free loan of $495,000, along with the same 20% of the brothers’ earnings, the report stated.
Finau has enjoyed a strong professional career that has made him quite wealthy.
CBS’ 2024 PGA money listings has Finau sitting with $5,032,356 in earnings this year.
