COLUMBUS, Ohio — Max Homa stood out greater than normal Monday in a U.S. Open qualifier crammed with 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 keeping with an individual knowledgeable of the cut up who stated solely that Harke “misplaced his job.”
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The individual spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of phrase of the separation wanted to return from Homa. And Homa did not supply a lot perception.
“I might a lot relatively speak concerning the golf as an alternative of all of the questions concerning the caddie,” Homa stated. “I am good. Simply hoofed it 36.”
As for the golf?
“It is going to most likely be heartbreaking, but it surely’s all proper,” Homa stated. “I have never carried my bag 36 holes shortly so I am a bit 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 following gap. When requested about his perspective, Homa dropped one clue concerning the cut up.
“It appears to be higher than when somebody is standing subsequent to me for some cause,” he stated. “I’d have to stroll on my own extra. Possibly I simply checked out it as a pleasant, peaceable stroll. In all probability bought to battle some demons and have nobody to lean on. Possibly that helps a bit bit. There is not any one … all the pieces is me. The battle helped that a bit bit.”
The qualifier at Kinsale provided six spots to subsequent week’s U.S. Open at Oakmont. Homa was across the bubble many 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 appeared 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 a 12 months in the past when he was No. 10 on the planet. However he has modified tools and adjusted coaches. He cut up along with his caddie of six years proper earlier than the Masters. After which he had no caddie in any respect.
Homa stated 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 closing gap was when it began to hit him.
He stated not having anybody to seek the advice of over a shot led him to be a bit extra conservative, not a nasty tactic on a course he would not know too properly.
Requested one final time concerning the caddie scenario, Homa whispered: “I wished to hold for 36 holes. Everybody goes to ask me that.”
Homa shouldn’t be completely out of the U.S. Open. He’s taking part in the Canadian Open this week, although he most likely must win to get into the highest 60 and qualify.
