Last year’s Open didn’t quite go the way Max Homa had hoped for – a missed cut at the Home of Golf, playing his favourite type of golf. Looking back, though, it was also one of the most memorable, or “crazy” as he puts it.
Like a lot of golfers around the same age as the 32-year-old, Homa grew up idolising Tiger Woods, and getting to play the 150th Open at St Andrews in the company of the 15-time Major winner was an experience that he will never forget.
“It was crazy, especially because it was at St Andrews, the walk up 18,” Homa tells Golf Monthly, with a wide smile. “Unfortunately he [Tiger] missed the cut, but walking up 18 the ovation he got was absurd. It made the hairs stand up on my neck.”
Homa played the first two rounds with Woods and US Open champion, Matt Fitzpatrick, but he missed out on playing the weekend by a single shot.
Despite playing with one of his heroes – he says Jason Gore is his other hero, as he also grew up playing in Vista Valencia, California – going home early was a hard one to take, especially given his love of playing in Britain.
“I love it, it’s my favourite,” Homa says of links golf. “I wish we got to do this every week. The golf courses are just so cool. I just think it’s a proper way to play golf.”
Tiger Woods makes an emotional walk up the 18th at St Andrews in 2022, and is followed by Max Homa and Matt Fitzpatrick
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Speaking about his round with Woods, the American, added: “He was awesome. I think our first round took six hours and fifteen minutes.
“Matt said it perfectly on 14 – he said if we were playing with anybody else we would be complaining, but this is actually not so bad. We talked a ton for two days. It was quite fun.”
Woods won’t be teeing it up at Hoylake, scene of his 2006 Open victory, as he continues to recovery from ankle surgery, which was required after his painful withdrawal from this year’s Masters.
However, Homa arrives at Hoylake as the world number eight, and although not among the hot favourites, the six-time PGA Tour winner is certainly one to keep an eye on.
After winning the Farmers Insurance Open in January, Homa narrowly missed out at Riviera Country Club the following month when Jon Rahm beat him to the line at The Genesis Invitational, a narrow defeat that reduced the likeable Californian to tears.
Talking about his Major prospects going into the final ‘big one’ of the men’s season, Homa is quietly confident about his…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly RSS Feed…