COLOMBUS, Ohio — Max Homa stood out more than usual Monday in the US Open Qualifiers filled with PGA Tour players. He was the only person with his own bag.
Homa has no caddies and no matter how much attention he’s getting on social media, he didn’t feel like talking about it. He and his two-month caddy Bill Hake are no longer together, according to those informed of the division that Hake said he had “lost his job.”
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the words of separation had to come from Homa. And Homa didn’t provide much insight.
“I want to talk about golf, not all the questions about caddy,” Homa said. “I’m fine. I just turned my 36 into hoofs.”
What about golf?
“It’s probably going to be heartbreaking, but it’s fine,” Homa said. “I haven’t carried 36 holes of bags in a while so I’m a little tired.”
He horrified it in 38 holes. Homa’s three-putt on the 36th hole in Kinsale made him a five-man playoff and held the final spot to reach US Open. Cameron Young won with a 12-foot birdie.
Homa lost the playoffs for the next hole’s alternative spot. When asked about his attitude, Homa dropped one clue about the division.
“It seems like it’s better than when someone is standing next to me for some reason,” he said. “I might need to walk more myself. Maybe I just saw it as a nice, peaceful walk. I probably have to fight some demons and I don’t rely on anyone. Maybe it helps a little. No one… everything is me. The fight helped a little.”
Kinsale qualifiers offered six spots for Oakmont’s US Open next week. Homa was around the bubble all day.
He left a tip in the rough in the ninth hole of the second round, making a double bogey, followed by a bogey, and responded with two straight birdies. He looked safe on his second shot at 25 feet on his final hole, par 5 9th hole. However, the difficult putt turned around the hole and returned about six feet.
Homa never imagined he would be in this position a year ago when he was No. 10 in the world. However, he changed equipment and changed coaches. He split up with six years of caddy just before Master. And he had no caddy at all.
Homa said he never felt tired as he was around the cutoff line all day and moved forward. It was when he started ramming his final hole three times and that was when he began to attack him.
He said that with no one to consult with him on the shot, he was a little more conservative and not a bad tactic on the course that he wasn’t familiar with.
Asked one last time about the situation with the caddy, Homa whispered.
Homa is not completely open from the US. He plays the Canadian Open this week, but he will likely have to win to qualify in the top 60.