Max Homa Still Struggling on the Verge of the Masters

With six career victories on the PGA Tour, Homa knows what is required to win.

And while he hasn’t been close to contenting recently—forget about winning—he doesn’t believe he needs to talk to himself about how good he can be but ponders the possibility that he is closer than he may believe.

It’s a case of not letting the scores dedicate how you’re progressing.

To many Homa observers, the issues are far beyond his mental attitude per se but a combination of what many believe are bad decisions.

A change of equipment, firing his coach, and recently seeing his veteran caddie and childhood friend leave make Homa’s situation tragic and difficult to fix, with seemingly too many variables to control.

“Pretty much since this week last year didn't hit it well for a long time, felt like I was running in circles.,” Homa said there is a need to change coaches. “Mark Blackburn is, I think, one of the smartest people I've ever spoken to and an amazing coach, but it just felt like -- I mean, it was just time, which sucks. It's not like something you want to do.”

Beyond the coaching change to John Scott Rattan, who has introduced a new swing that is not ready for primetime, Homa changed equipment, moving to Cobra, new clothing in Lululemon, and is now losing his old caddie since 2019 Joe Grenier for Bill Harke, a veteran caddie, who has worked previously for Chris Kirk and Colt Knost among others.

Homa said his contract ending precipitated the change to different equipment, and he had always been interested in Cobra.

He believes the change would suit his game, but the result says something different.

“Just like everything's been just because I want to just get better,” Homa said. “The swing changes have been the biggest issue, I would say, or just like the thing that's taken the longest. But I would have still done what I did. I just wish I could catch on a little bit quicker.”

Homa said he didn’t want to flounder, so he made all the changes.

“It's not just to make changes,” Homa pleaded. “I would never -- I know some people like they say golfers like to blame things and then get rid of that, and it's not their fault. It wasn't that. It's just I'm just trying to look to get better and reach my potential.”

But of all the changes that Homa made, the one that will likely hurt him the most in the end is one he did not make: losing Grenier.

“So, it sucks because I just pictured always walking fairways with Joe,” Homa said. “But again, that's not -- that was not the deal. I would rather walk life with Joe forever than this dumb game. So it's been hard to process, but also good in a way, because friendship does matter more than any of this stuff.”