Tony Finau never considered not playing at the BMW Championship, but believes an "uncomfortable conversation" about racism is healthy for the United States.

Amid protests against racial injustice by numerous teams and players across several sports, the PGA Tour event went ahead as scheduled on Thursday.

It came in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

Finau backed the NBA and MLB in particular for postponing games, saying it would lead to a conversation the USA needed to have.

"Anyone that's willing to have the uncomfortable conversation about systemic racism and just that in general in our country I think is a healthy thing for all of us," he told a news conference after carding an even-par 70.

"We continue to learn from each other in a positive way I think is the most important thing, and we all have different perspectives as we go through our life.

"Listening to each other I think is a big deal, so they took a stand for what they think is the right thing, and as a society I think it's our responsibility to just listen and pay attention to what's going on around us, and if we're willing to have those uncomfortable conversations, I think our country can continue to move forward."

Good day with the flatstick @BMWChamps pic.twitter.com/hG7mW8f1uO

— Tony Finau Golf (@tonyfinaugolf) August 28, 2020

While the PGA Tour supported any players who decided not to participate, the BMW Championship proceeded as scheduled.

Finau, who is tied for fourth and three shots behind leader Hideki Matsuyama, said he never thought about not playing.

"No, it didn't really cross my mind, but I understood the magnitude of what the NBA was doing and what they were boycotting for," he said.

"I know the PGA Tour is in full support of that, and again, it's a conversation that's uncomfortable, sensitive for our country, but if we're not willing to have those, I don't think we can move forward as a country."