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 not collectively, in accordance with an individual knowledgeable of the break up and stated 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 return from Homa. And Homa did not supply a lot perception.
“I might a lot fairly speak concerning the golf as a substitute of all of the questions concerning the caddie,” Homa stated. “I am good. Simply hoofed it 36.”
As for the golf? That story wasn’t fairly over.
“It is going to most likely be heartbreaking, but it surely’s all proper,” Homa stated. “I have not carried my bag 36 holes shortly so I am slightly drained.”
When requested about his perspective, Homa dropped one clue concerning the break up.
“It appears to be higher than when somebody is standing subsequent to me for some cause,” he stated. “I would must stroll on my own extra. Perhaps I simply checked out it as a pleasant, peaceable stroll. In all probability acquired to battle some demons and have nobody to lean on. Perhaps that helps slightly bit. There isn’t any one … every little thing is me. The battle helped that slightly 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 toes on the par-5 ninth gap, his final one. However the uphill putt turned across the gap and got here again some 6 toes, and he three-putted for par to complete at 5-under 139.
A playoff seemed to be his greatest hope. He can be OK with lugging the bag extra holes if it meant going to Oakmont.
Homa did not think about being on this place a 12 months in the past when he was No. 10 on this planet. However he has modified gear and adjusted 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 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 remaining 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 slightly extra conservative, not a foul tactic on a course he would not know all too effectively.
Requested one final time concerning the caddie scenario, Homa whispered: “I wished to hold for 36 holes. Everybody goes to ask me that.”