Max Homa

Residence: Scottsdale, Arizona
Age: 32
World Ranking: 7
Ryder Cup ranking: 5
Ryder Cup appearances: Rookie

About a year ago, Max Homa made a pledge to U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson.

“I told Zach last year, I was kissing up to him, but then he also said, ‘Well, I'd like to not have to pick you, and I said, ‘All right, there's my promise,’” Homa said after shooting a course-record 62 on Day 2 of the BMW Championship.

Consider that fulfilled.

The 32-year-old has punched his ticket to Rome as an automatic qualifier and will play on his first U.S. Team.

Several years ago, however, few would have foreseen this.

Homa won the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship as a California Golden Bear. But the start of his professional career wasn’t as glorious.

He lost his Tour card in 2015 and returned to the Web.com Tour, but would regain it in 2017. However, he missed 15 of 17 cuts that year and collected $18,008 in earnings.

In 2019, the Los Angeles native again reclaimed Tour status, entering the year No. 836 in the world rankings. Then, his breakthrough moment came that May at the Wells Fargo Championship, when Homa, as the world No. 417, outdueled Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose for his maiden Tour victory.

“I'm very proud I finally found a ladder and started climbing upwards because it was getting dark down there,” Homa said following the win.

That was only the beginning of Homa’s ascent into the light.

He increased his stature by leveraging his affable personality to become one of golf’s must-follows on social media. But he continued to make a name for himself on the course, too. Homa topped Tony Finau in a playoff at the 2021 Genesis Invitational — Homa’s hometown event — and was handed the winner’s trophy by his boyhood hero Tiger Woods while tearing up.

More wins, though, were on the horizon. In September 2021, he won the Fortinet Championship in Napa Valley, then captured the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship before successfully defending his Fortinet title with a chip-in for eagle on the 72nd hole.

The following week, Homa dazzled in his first Presidents Cup appearance with a 4-0-0 record.

“Best week of golf I could ever imagine,” Homa said after the U.S. Team secured a 17.5 – 12.5 over the Internationals. “It was very special just to be on this team and to contribute and to bond with the guys.”

He hoped it was a preview of what is to come in Rome, saying, “I think America's going to be in a pretty good place for a little while.” But first, Homa had nearly an entire season to play en route to making his Ryder Cup dream a reality.

Fast forward to January 2023, he emerged victorious at Torrey Pines in one of the Tour’s marquee events, the Farmers Insurance Open. His game — and life — had completely transformed in just a few years.

“I remind myself most days too when I'm getting nervous coming down the stretch or things are getting wobbly ... I just kind of always remind myself, you've seen the darkness of this game, enjoy this, enjoy the beauty of it. People chanting my name, things I could never have imagined,” Homa said afterward.

That now includes a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, though he probably won’t hear many “Max” chats on European soil. Homa hasn’t re-entered the winner’s circle since Torrey Pines, but this season he set career highs in every strokes gained category, except off the tee, while doubling his career-best in top-10s with 11, tied for the third-most on Tour. The last two came in the first two FedExCup playoff events — securing his spot as an automatic qualifier for the U.S. Team.

Which made good on his promise to Johnson.

And the captain wouldn’t have wanted it to happen any other way.

"I have a ton of respect for Max and think he will bring a ton of passion to the U.S. Team room in Rome. I've seen his game up close and personal in Match Play, and I know he's going play a critical part in our success in Italy."

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL - AUGUST 18: PGA golfer Max Homa putts on the 16th hole during the second round of the BMW Championship Fed Ex Cup Playoffs on August 18th, 2023, at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

What Homa Brings to the Team

There’s hardly a weakness in Homa’s game. His lowest strokes gained rank on Tour is off the tee, in which he’s 44th. But his strength is his putter, as he’s fifth on Tour in SG: Putting and second in putting average (1.699). Sometimes, Ryder Cups are won by who can get hot with the flatstick.

However, a Ryder Cup can also be decided by which team has better chemistry — and aside from his well-rounded skillset, Homa is one of the most outgoing, likable players on the Tour and can play with almost anyone. But don’t let that fool you because he’s also as competitive as anyone, which was evident at the 2022 Presidents Cup.

“This guy's solid as a rock,” Tony Fianu said after pairing with Homa in Foursomes in the Presidents Cup. “He's so clutch … I'm playing with Mr. Clutch. If anybody didn't know, now you know.”

Potential Partnerships

As mentioned, Homa’s game can fit alongside anyone. But out of the six automatic qualifiers, Scottie Scheffler makes sense. Scheffler is the world No. 1 for a reason, but putting is the clear weakness in his game. He’s 145th on Tour in SG: Putting; though, he’s first in approach, off the tee, tee to green and total. Therefore, Homa can help fill the putting void in Scheffler’s game and make a lethal tandem.

Career Ryder Cup Highlight

Homa will be a Ryder Cup rookie, but at last year’s Presidents Cup, he stole the show. He was undefeated, with the signature moment of his glorious week being a Sunday singles match against Tom Kim, who was the breakout star of the International team. Homa rallied from three down with seven holes left to win 1 up.

Now, he looks to recreate that success in Rome.