Extra work, new caddie fuel Homa’s PGA surge

CHARLOTTE (AFP) — Max Homa fired the lowest major round of his career, a sizzling seven-under par 64, to leap into contention on Friday at the PGA Championship despite a new caddie and swing issues.

The 34-year-old American was on five-under 137 for 36 holes at Quail Hollow after going five-under on his first six holes in Friday’s second round and he nearly aced the 340-yard par-four 14th hole.

“I’ve hit a lot of golf balls in the last seven months, like an absurd amount of golf balls,” Homa said of the work to sort out swing issues.

“I’ve realized that, as bad as it has been, I’m quite good at golf to play decent from some of the positions I’ve been in.”

Homa began on the back nine, which he opened and closed with birdies, and he sandwiched birdies at 13 and 15 around an eagle he settled for at 14 when his tee shot stunningly landed inches from the hole.

“That was great,” Homa said.

“It was not the best shot I ever hit. I was aiming one yard inside the right bunker. I looked up, slightly scared of it going left, but it was still a good drive.”

“The (spectator) claps from the green were helpful to know I was probably putting. But that was one of the rare occasions in golf where as the further you walk up to the green, the closer it got.”

Homa has not won since a 2023 DP World Tour event in South Africa and took his most recent of six PGA Tour titles in 2023 at Torrey Pines.

After missing five consecutive cuts, Homa split last month with caddie Joe Greiner after six years with his childhood pal as bagman. New caddie Bill Harke is with Homa this week.

“Bill has been awesome,” Homa said.

“It’s really hard to change caddies. You’re in a full relationship on day one. So it can be tricky.”

“Joe and I worked for so long and so well together that it’s never going to be exactly like that. We’ve been trying to kind of find our own groove. Bill is really amazing at the psychology of golf and talking to me and keeping me positive.”