Tony Finau, native of SLC, was eliminated from the opening of the British Open after the opening of Round 67

While most Utahns slept early Thursday morning, Tony Finau, from Salt Lake City, had another fantastic start in a major championship.

Continuing the momentum gained at the US Open last month, Finau Par 67 at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland and is in a three-point tie for second place at the British Open.

Finau, who currently resides in Lehi, began his tour at 3:31 am MDT and made a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18-hole par-4 after reaching the green in the regulation of a pot bunker of fairway.

He was down 4 when he made his third straight birdie on the back nine holes earlier, but made a bogey on the 16th 248-yard hole to fall momentarily into the standings.

"The firmest fairways I've ever played, and it's not even close," Finau told NBC Sports. "With these kinds of conditions, you have to think about your course on the golf course, and that's what I did today."

Weather conditions were ideal on a dry and fast terrain littered with bunkers on the shores of the North Sea. scores were generally lower than expected. Kevin Kisner, of the United States, is the leader of the first round after shooting a player under 66 years. Finau is tied at 67 with South Africans Erik van Rooyen and Zander Lombard.

Finau said the course was so difficult that he reached a three-run length of 420 yards when training on Wednesday. He birdied his first two holes and made eight birdies and four bogeys. Carnoustie only has two par 5's, and the long birdied Finau at a time.

Playing with Xander Schauffele and Jhonathan Vegas, Finau will play at 8:32 am MDT on Friday in hopes of continuing an impressive run in the majors this year. He finished tied for 10th in the Masters and finished fifth at the US Open.

Finau finished five of the top 20 in nine seasons in the last four seasons. He is on the right track to another.