COLUMBUS, Ohio — Max Homa stood out greater than regular Monday in a U.S. Open qualifier full of PGA Tour gamers. He was the one one carrying his personal bag.
Homa did not have a caddie and did not really feel like speaking about it, no matter how a lot consideration it was getting on social media. He and his caddie of two months, Invoice Harke, are now not collectively, in response to an individual knowledgeable of the break up who mentioned solely that Harke “misplaced his job.”
The individual spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of phrase of the separation wanted to come back from Homa. And Homa did not provide a lot perception.
“I would a lot somewhat discuss concerning the golf as a substitute of all of the questions concerning the caddie,” Homa mentioned. “I am good. Simply hoofed it 36.”
As for the golf?
“It’ll most likely be heartbreaking, nevertheless it’s all proper,” Homa mentioned. “I have not carried my bag 36 holes shortly so I am a bit of drained.”
He wound up hoofing it 38 holes. Homa’s three-putt for par on his thirty sixth gap at Kinsale put him in a five-man playoff for the ultimate spot to get to the U.S. Open. Cameron Younger gained it with a 12-foot birdie.
Homa then misplaced a playoff for an alternate spot on the subsequent gap. When requested about his angle, Homa dropped one clue concerning the break up.
“It appears to be higher than when somebody is standing subsequent to me for some purpose,” he mentioned. “I’d must stroll on my own extra. Possibly I simply checked out it as a pleasant, peaceable stroll. In all probability obtained to battle some demons and have nobody to lean on. Possibly that helps a bit of bit. There is not any one … all the things is me. The battle helped that a bit of bit.”
The qualifier at Kinsale provided six spots to the U.S. Open at Oakmont subsequent week. Homa was across the bubble a lot of the day.
He left a chip within the tough on his ninth gap of the second spherical and made double bogey, adopted that with a bogey after which responded with two straight birdies. He seemed to be secure with a second shot into 25 ft on the par-5 ninth gap, his final one. However the uphill putt turned across the gap and got here again some 6 ft, and he three-putted for par to complete at 5-under 139.
Homa did not think about being on this place ayear in the past when he was No. 10 on the earth. However he has modified tools and altered coaches. He break up together with his caddie of six years proper earlier than the Masters. After which he had no caddie in any respect.
Homa mentioned he by no means felt the fatigue as a result of he was across the cutoff line all day, pushing ahead. After he three-putted his remaining gap was when it began to hit him.
He mentioned not having anybody to seek the advice of over a shot led him to be a bit of extra conservative, not a foul tactic on a course he would not know all too properly.
Requested one final time concerning the caddie state of affairs, Homa whispered: “I wished to hold for 36 holes. Everybody goes to ask me that.”
Homa isn’t completely out of the U.S. Open. He’s enjoying the Canadian Open this week, although he probably must win to get into the highest 60 and qualify.
