Max Homa finds some PGA Championship magic after tears and toxic spiral
The American star grabs his lowest-ever Major round after months of golfing anguish
Resilient Max Homa surged from tears and toxic spiral to triumph as he rifled his way back into Major contention.
The popular American shot his lowest-ever round in one of the big-four events with a fabulous second-day 64 at The PGA Championship.
Homa has been through the golfing wringer in the past year after a dramatic and dismal loss of form. Having provided a rare American highlight at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome and finishing tied-third at Masters last year, the 34-year-old was storming his way into the elite of the game.
However, in an instant, it began to fall apart for Homa as he dropped off a golfing cliff with a string of awful results and the emotional star had tears in his eyes at The Players Championship two months ago after another forgettable effort. Homa changed everything. His club manufacturer, his coach and, finally, things appear to heading back on track.
He almost had a one-in-hole at the par four 14th as he scorched around the Charlotte track in seven-under par to rocket up the leaderboard.
It's been a slog for Homa, but the signs are good again and, post Friday's inspiring effort, he said: 'It's been hard certain weeks. I play well and don't get much out of it and it's actually easier to be patient then because I just see my kind of runway.
"Like I know I'll find it at some point. There's been some weeks where it just felt terrible and it's hard to see what next season's going to hold in a good way.
'So just been trying to be a little bit more present and focus on what I'm doing, but last week and then the week prior at home, I found a lot of form. Last week I played awesome. I know I got 30th, but I just scored poorly, so it was nice. Last week was the first week where I left there and thought I could have won my golf tournament had I done a better job, but I hadn't been in that position in a while where the game actually felt great.
'I was excited to come here because it just felt like things were lining up a little bit better. I played so well yesterday and didn't score well, had a bad finish, woke up kind of in a good mood, excited to play. It wasn't quite back against the wall, but I needed a good round and just found a little groove. I just haven't put up a low round in a while, so it just feels nice.'
On his near albatross, he said: 'I caught it just like the perfect amount off the toe. You can't see it, it's one of those rare shots where you walk up and it gets closer as you get closer to the green! So very lucky and happy to be able to just brush one in for two.'
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