Max Homa, a prominent figure on the PGA Tour, has undergone significant changes in his golfing approach over the past year. From his footwork to his follow-through, he re-worked just about everything in order to get back on track. This incredible comeback story has had everyone from supporters to sports analyst heads spinning.
Homa’s path to the 2017 PGA Championship was a critical fork in the road. He amazed the golfing world by shooting incredible 7-under 64 in the second round. This elimination was his lowest score at a major and his best finish since the 2023 BMW Championship. His strong front nine, where he shot an impressive 30 thanks to four birdies and an eagle, demonstrated his newfound groove on the course.
To get to this rebirth, Homa has personally worked his tail off. He admitted to having played an “absurd number of golf balls” in the last seven months. This commitment, he says, has transformed his abilities like never before. Bubba recently made a change to his driver setup to set him up to hit everything left. This adjustment allows him to fully unfurl his fade and increase his ball speed. He remarked on the significant adjustments he made, saying, “I wouldn’t advise switching your clubs and your coach at the same time, or your golf swing.”
Switching caddies was just as important to Homa’s metamorphosis. His longtime friend and caddie Joe Greiner is no longer by his side. Today, he’s joined by Bill Harke. Harke emphasized the importance of acknowledging progress during challenging times: “When you’re in a rut, you got to go through that point first, right? You got to start admitting to yourself that you’re getting better and then you can take the next step to being better.”
Besides exchanging caddies, Homa has made some notable moves in terms of equipment and apparel sponsors as well in the offseason. His new bag now features all–new golf clubs, which he credits for his dramatic return to form. He changed swing coaches from Mark Blackburn to John Scott Rattan.
Reflecting on his struggles, Homa expressed the challenges of adapting to these changes: “It’s been hard. I feel like I was playing with a foreign swing at times.” What truly made his game feel foreign to him was a crisis of confidence. An increasingly inconsistent swing stymied his production.
Although he placed eighth at last year’s Masters, Homa hit a rough patch at the start of this season, missing five consecutive cuts. He rebounded this year at the Augusta National Golf Club. He came down the stretch well, finishing in a tie for 12th. Now, this comeback is a tribute to his work ethic and unbreakable will.
As Homa continues to find comfort on the course, he noted the positive impact of the PGA Championship venue on his game: “As I’ve started to feel really good, I knew I was going to come in here and swing it nicely. I just needed to find some comfort. This place does that for me.”
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