Homa's sights are fixed on an eighth professional triumph down in South Africa.
Max Homa's 2024 season's second half has not turned out the American had hoped for, but one performance in South Africa gives him an opportunity to turn all around. Homa, who is the defending champion at the 2024 Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour, has topped the leaderboard following the first round with a 6-under 66 that drove him one clear of Ockie Strydom.
"It's always nice to return to a place with some really good memories," Homa said at the start of the week. "This feels a little like a home away from home for the week, although it isn't very close to home. Last year was quite enjoyable; thus far, I have had a great week and am glad to be here. It's good to come to a golf tournament and test them out since I made a lot of changes the last three months or so. I feel good; I feel as though I am working from knowledge. I simply need some pressure to see what feels like what and then proceed from there.
Homa's defense couldn't have started off better as 34-year-old rolled in birdies on his first three holes. Adding still another on the par-4 sixth, Homa grabbed himself a piece of the lead right before the turn as he found the surface on the par-5 9th in two and two putted for his fifth birdie of the outward half.
An issue for Homa in 2024, choppy waves rocked the ship in the middle of his back nine as missed fairways caused bogeys on Nos. 13 and 15. Homa finally converted after the errors were corrected practically immediately as pinpoint approaches the challenging par-4 17th and par-4 18th set up birdie bids from inside 11 feet.
"Everything about the culture and just getting to come over here... we're very lucky to travel for our job," Homa said. "For me, it's a real treat to have a chance to travel the globe and encounter something different. You should be in the fairways; if not, you can still score. People make a lot of putts since the greens are in truly excellent shape. Off the tee, it's really a game of accuracy; then, try to make as many birdies as you can. I would love to win since you always want to win.
Homa hasn't cashed a top-20 finish since the Wells Fargo Championship in May, but his swing work is starting to show. Following a great effort for the triumphant U.S. Presidents Cup team, Homa kept things headed in the right direction at the Zozo Championship.
Any chance of a title was dashed by an opening 73 in Japan, but closing rounds of 66-67-66 inspired fresh confidence. It has spread to South Africa, and should it last three days, Homa might well find himself carried off the 18th green on Sunday just as he was last year.
.jpg)
0 Comments