- The Washington Times - Sunday, April 11, 2021

As Tony Finau waited around for Saturday’s lengthy weather delay during Saturday’s third round of the Master Tournament, the golfer received a surprise.

Hanging in the caddie house at Augusta National Golf Club, Jimmy Dunne — a member at the club — handed Finau his cell phone. On a FaceTime call was Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, ready to pass the time of the storm with Finau.

“That was a pleasant surprise,” Finau said (via ESPN). “He said, ’Great playing,’ and he was following. He was surprised we stopped. He said in the NFL when it rains you don’t stop. I let him know, ’Yeah, maybe we’re not as tough as you guys,’ but he said, ’No, that’s not the case.’ We had a good laugh about that.”

Play had been suspended around 4 p.m. because of dangerous weather in the area. As Finau stayed dry in the caddie house, Dunne told Finau, “Somebody wants to talk to you.”

Finau said he had met Brady before in 2017, when the seven-time Super Bowl champion was still a member of the New England Patriots. Finau is friends with Brady’s longtome trainer, Alex Guerrero, according to the Associated Press.

“Alex is one of my good friends and someone I’ve known for a little bit,” Finau told AP. “That’s kind of how we met in Boston when he was playing for the Patriots, and this is only the second time we’ve had a conversation.”

Finau tees off Sunday in the final round of the Masters at 2 p.m. He might need some Brady fourth-quarter magic to make up ground, trailing leader Hideki Matsuyama by eight strokes.

• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.

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