Max Homa is still far from playing his best golf after missing the cut by five shots at the WM Phoenix Open. With the Genesis Invitational having just begun, will he continue to struggle to find his form?
What Has Gone Wrong With Max Homa?
Fall From Grace
The 2021-2023 version of Max Homa was one of the most electric players in golf. Capturing five titles most recently at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Fortinet Championship. He was on fire with some of the best iron play and putting on tour. It seemed like the rise of golf’s next great talent. But the man we saw dismantle Team Europe in his first Ryder Cup seems almost recognizable to the golfer we’ve seen recently.
It has been over two full years since Homa raised silverware. The last time Homa even carded a top-10 on tour was in May of last year. As time passes, this has become less of a trend and more of a norm. It’s raised questions about if that version of Max Homa will ever be back competing at golf’s grandest stages.
A Look At The Numbers
Looking at just 2023-2024, the drop in stats tells you much of the story.
On tour, he ranked 50th in strokes gained off the tee. He also ranked 39th in both strokes gained around the green and approach. It’s incomprehensible when you consider just the season before he was 11th off the tee and top-10 on approach.
The only consistency is his bearable 39th around the green, which is similar to his position from the previous season. The only shining light in the numbers is that his putting has stayed at the championship level it was before. Even though he still feels like he’s going backward, he’s managed to stay in the top 15.
But Homa’s putting was unable to save him dropping from the top 10 in total strokes gained to barely cracking the top 40. This resulted in a 104th place finish in the FedEx Cup rankings. A skyfall from his 14th place finish the previous year. It shows you that more than a simple fix for Homa is needed.
Where He Finds Hope
Even when his game struggles to meet the expectations fans and even himself set, Homa knows he can return to his championship level.
“For one, I know what I’m capable of,” Homa said Tuesday. “Secondly, I know that I am quite tough when it comes to this stuff. I’ve gone through this much worse before where the results weren’t coming. I definitely have my low days. I’ve been incredibly frustrated since April. But I also see—I find pride in waking up after a hard day and having the energy to go get better.”
Homa has the mindset of an elite golfer and knows he has the ability to be back amongst the best. But this weekend’s Genesis Open at Torrey Pines will be one of his toughest tests yet this season. Homa should find comfort in knowing that his not-so-recent last victory at the Farmers Insurance Open came at the very same course.
For many, it seems inevitable that he will once again be victorious on tour. But those very same people are starting to worry that the best Max Homa is already behind us. In a game that is so maddening, even those who have dedicated everything to the craft still can’t quite get it right. But with someone with the supreme talent like Homa, it’s hopefully more of a question of when and not if.
Main photo credit:
© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
