A week to forget for the Americans in the Ryder cup. But there was one member of their team who stood head and shoulders above the rest. Max Homa came into this Ryder cup as a rookie but left as a stalwart for the team for years to come.
He added to the already high number of admirers from both a golfing and personality point of view. He was the only American to play all five matches and perform each day. The highest points scorer on the red side with 3.5 points, his record was 3-1-1.
Homa had played team golf before with University of California, both the walker cup (2013) and the president’s cup (2022). He stated in a press conference this week that when it comes to team golf - “I’m big on the camaraderie thing” This was obvious in every interview, every fist pump and every high five.
He, along with Brian Harman put the first red pointon the board on Saturday morning. They beat Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka 4 & 2, and they did it in style. Homa produced a ‘Tiger style’ moment when he chipped in from the fringe and proceeded to take his hat off and hug Harmen before the ball even dropped!
Then, on Sunday, in his singles match against Fitzpatrick, coming down 18 he took an unplayable lie and had to make a tricky up and down for par to win the match. He not only hit a good chip but also a huge clutch putt to deliver his point. After his huge fist pump and roar mics picked up him saying to his caddie “Did you see my legs shaking?”
What I love about the Ryder Cup is that you see so much more of a golfer’s personality. You see more of their passion and emotions hole by hole than normal PGA events. This was epitomised by Homa on Saturday afternoon. He had an awkward lie from the rough and a European fan was giving him dogs abuse (which we later hear wasn’t just friendly banter). Homa ignores it, holes a flopshot and turns around to point at the fan giving it straight back to them.
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