There are many reasons professional golfers have found themselves in need of a win, but few have encountered the dilemma Max Homa currently faces.
The six-time PGA Tour winner is on the verge of finishing regular season well outside the top 70. A win would help get him in, but a far more pressing need at home puts a major emphasis on getting a trophy this week.
“I need to win. I really need to win because my wife’s pregnant and I need to go home,” Homa said after the first round of the 3M Open, according to the transcripts of his post-round interview. “We have like two weeks left. It’s a little extra stressful, but I think the only way that you can go out and win a golf tournament is by not exactly trying to win a golf tournament. So it’s a weird headspace.”
A victory would give Homa the opportunity to stay in contention for the FedEx Cup playoffs. The playoffs don’t start until Aug. 15, so a win in Minnesota would allow Homa to be home for a couple of weeks and not have to keep chasing the playoff spot. The $1.5 million for first place wouldn’t hurt, either.
Max Homa of the United States Team and wife Lacey Croom leave the 18th green in a golf cart during Friday four-ball matches on day two of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country…
Max Homa of the United States Team and wife Lacey Croom leave the 18th green in a golf cart during Friday four-ball matches on day two of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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That’s why, despite his wife’s upcoming due date, Homa is playing the 3M Open and is also committed to the Wyndham Championship next week.
“My wife told me to play, so it’s scheduled the Monday after the Wyndham,” Homa said, according to the transcripts. “Yeah, just every day I finish a day of golf I look at my phone and see if I’m flying home so we’ll see. It’s a good problem to have.”
The 34-year-old got off to a strong start at the 3M Open, carding five birdies to finish a bogey-free first round tied for 18th at 5-under. However, he trails leader Adam Svensson by six strokes.
He has had a rather poor season, with seven missed cuts in 18 tournaments played and only two top-25 finishes, including a top-10 he achieved just two weeks ago at the John Deere Classic (T5).
Homa married his wife Lacey Croom in 2019, and they welcomed their first child, Cam Andrew, in October 2022.
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