Latest news with #Harke
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Caddie's reaction to PGA Champ star's meltdown as he launches club says it all
Max Homa endured a frustrating final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, with the American launching his club down the fairway at one point Max Homa couldn't hide his annoyance as he faltered during the final round of the PGA Championship. The 34-year-old was spotted throwing his club down the fairway after slotting a double bogey at Quail Hollow. Homa, who has had a challenging year on the PGA Tour, started the final round at level-par for the tournament but quickly found himself over par following a difficult start to the fourth day. The US Ryder Cup star made two pars before a double bogey at the third. After hitting his tee shot far left, Homa was forced to lay up before his third shot missed on the right-hand side of the green. Clearly displeased, he then threw his wedge in frustration, before grudgingly going to repair his divot. The American was teaming up with his new caddie, Bill Harke after a surprising split with his long-time partner, Joe Grenier, last month. Harke didn't seem too impressed with Homa's behaviour on the third, walking straight past the thrown club, leaving the player to retrieve it. Further trouble awaited Homa at the green before he finally walked away with a double bogey six. Despite the frustrations, there have been plenty of positives for Homa throughout the week. After a tough start on day one, the world No. 78 fought his way into contention on Friday, shooting an impressive seven-under-par 64. He couldn't capitalise on his momentum, however, as he followed up his 64 with a disappointing five-over 76, dropping out of the race. Homa's recent improving form follows a surprising caddie switch, placing his faith in experienced bagman Harke for the rest of the season. Before this week's tournament, Homa reached out to iconic PGA Tour caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay, who suggested Harke to the ex-world No. 5. "I didn't really know who to go to because I never thought about it. Obviously caught me by surprise a little bit," he admitted. The move marked a significant shift for Homa, who had previously teamed up with close pal Grenier. Consequently, he shared with his wife Lacey that adjusting to a new caddie felt akin to embarking on a new relationship. "Bill has been awesome. It's really hard to change caddies," Homa told Mirror US when queried if a fresh perspective had aided his game. "I was talking to my wife about that last night. You're in like a full relationship day one. You're out there with him, the first day is probably eight hours. It's not exactly a normal first date. So it can be tricky. Joe and I worked for so long and so well together that it's never going to be exactly like that. We've been trying to kind of find our own groove. "Bill is really amazing at the psychology of golf and talking to me and keeping me positive when I start to go a little dark. Especially at Augusta this year, he was amazing. I had two rounds where it was because of him what we did. "Now that I'm playing a bit better the last two weeks, it's trying to find our rhythm on like clubs and this and that. Yeah, it's a learning curve, but I've really enjoyed being around him. He's a Bay Area sports fan, which is hard, but that's probably his worst quality."
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Max Homa reached out to Jim 'Bones' Mackay for recommendation on new caddie, and it worked
Max Homa reached out to Jim 'Bones' Mackay for recommendation on new caddie, and it worked Show Caption Hide Caption Max Homa on transparency: 'It doesn't help me, but fans deserve it' Max Homa admits being transparent might not benefit him, but says fans deserve real insight from athletes. PGA TOUR Jim "Bones" Mackay recommended veteran caddie Bill Harke to Homa. Harke and Homa are working together for their fifth week at the PGA Championship. Homa shot his lowest round at a major by three strokes, a 64, in the second round of the PGA Championship. CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Max Homa needed a new caddie. He said he always imagined that he'd play until around age 60 with his childhood friend Joe Greiner as his faithful sidekick but the two parted ways in March with Homa mired in a slump. 'I didn't really know who to go to because I never thought about it. Obviously caught me by surprise a little bit,' Homa explained after shooting 64 in the second round of the 107th PGA Championship. So who did he reach out to for a recommendation? None other than Jim 'Bones' Mackay, the longtime looper and NBC golf commentator, who recommended Bill Harke, a 48-year-old veteran caddie who has been caddying on various tours since 2004. Harke has caddied for numerous professionals on the PGA Tour including most recently Taylor Montgomery but also a cast of characters: Jonas Blixt, Peter Tomasulo, Peter Lonard, Jarod Lyle, Aron Price, James Driscoll, Tom Gillis, Colt Knost, Sam Ryder, Paul Casey, James Hahn, Ryan Moore, Chris Kirk, Min Woo Lee, Matt Every and a few LPGA players too. 'Some caddies get breaks with who they work for and some guys don't,' Bones said. 'I thought Bill was a guy who was a very, very good caddie and never got a break in the business. I've been out with him a bunch and he's low-key, just a wonderful human being and someone you can really spend a lot of time around.' Bones told Homa he thought they would gel. 'Obviously I put a lot of faith and trust in Bones. He's as knowledgeable as they get. Gave Bill a call,' Homa said. Harke had been teaching golf for the last two years in the Bay Area, imparting all the golf knowledge he had learned from listening to the best teachers in the world interact with the best golfers in the world. 'I've learned a lot through osmosis,' he said. Harke's partner, Beth Allen, a former LPGA pro, is the women's golf coach at Division II Academy of Art University in San Francisco and he also serves as her volunteer assistant coach. He was driving a bunch of players on a shuttle from the 18th green to the first tee at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, during a tournament when his phone rang and the name Homa popped up on the screen. They've known each other for years from Harke's days caddying for Tomasulo, Homa's former Cal teammate, and when Homa, a six-time Tour winner, asked him to work for him, he didn't hesitate to jump at the chance. Their first tournament was the Valero Texas Open in April and this week at the PGA marks the fifth week of their partnership. 'You're in like a full relationship day one,' Homa said. 'You're out there with him, first day is probably eight hours. It's not exactly a normal first date.' They were gelling on Friday as Harke reminded Homa to 'see your target and commit to it.' 'That's all I did,' he said after the round. 'When they're playing well, it's real easy.' Homa's 64, his lowest round at a major by three shots, was a throwback to his days of point and shoot, restoring hope that he can become a top-10 player again and help Team USA regain the Ryder Cup this September. All credit to Harke? "None at all," he said with a smile.
