CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There’s still plenty of golf to be played in this Wells Fargo Championship, but Max Homa doesn’t figure to be going away anytime soon.
If you’re a golf fan and don’t know a lot about Homa, don’t be so hard on yourself. He made just two of 17 cuts in 2017, was 61-over par in 16 stroke-play starts, lost his PGA Tour card, is ranked 417th in the world and has just three top-10 finishes in 68 career tournaments.
But Homa is in prime position to win his first career tournament as the Wells Fargo enters its final round Sunday, standing in a three-way tie for the lead at 11-under after shooting 70 in Saturday’s weather-interrupted third round at Quail Hollow. Jason Dufner and Joel Dahmen are also 11-under.
Pat Perez, who shot 66 Saturday, is one shot back at 10-under. Rory McIlroy, who was celebrating his 30th birthday Saturday, is 9-under. Justin Rose is 8-under.
Homa, a Southern California native, revels in what he believes is his biggest strength, his relentlessness. He even has a tattoo on his arm that reads: “Relentless.’’
“It’s always been my favorite word,” he said. “There’s a great book, one of the basketball trainers, the book’s called ‘Relentless.’ It’s always been my favorite word in college. Just kind of being tougher than everybody, not giving up.
“When I played very, very bad two years ago, I just kept thinking about that word. I knew I was going to be back out here and I was going to make myself get back out here, and that’s when my attitude changed. You’ve kind of got to love yourself a little bit more.”
After Homa shot his second-round 63, ending Friday just one shot off the lead, a reporter suggested his position might be a surprise to some people.
“Everybody else probably will be [surprised],” Homa replied, “but I was kind of waiting for this to happen.”
After Homa lost his Tour card, he played the Web.com Tour in 2018 and played well enough to earn his card back to the big leagues.
“Two years ago, streaky … very bad,” Homa said of 2017. “Honestly, this year’s been the most consistent I’ve played.”
Homa won the NCAA Championship in 2013 and played on that year’s Walker Cup team. Justin Thomas and Michael Kim, both PGA Tour winners, were on that team with him. Both Homa and Thomas both made their first PGA Tour start as professionals at the 2013 Safeway Open, where Thomas finished 72nd and Homa ninth. They both graduated to the PGA Tour in 2014 after one season on the Web.com Tour.
Thomas became a major champion and a FedEx Cup winner, while Homa struggled.
“Obviously, I know Justin is far superior,’’ Homa said. “But I also know that my good golf was somewhat similar.”
This week at Quail Hollow, he’s showing that. Thanks to his relentlessness.
