Max Homa stood out in a way that had nothing to do with his swing or his scorecard during Monday’s intense U.S. Open qualifier. In a field packed with PGA Tour pros, all with caddies hauling their gear and offering strategic advice, Homa was the lone wolf—carrying his own bag, grinding through the day with no one but himself to lean on.
It wasn’t just fans and onlookers who took notice. Social media lit up with questions and speculation about why a player of Homa’s caliber was flying solo. But Homa wasn’t interested in feeding the buzz.
“I’d really rather talk about the golf than answer a bunch of questions about the caddie,” he said after the round. “I’m good. Just hoofed it for 36 holes.”
And what a grind it was. Homa ended up walking 38 holes, thanks to a sudden-death playoff that followed a clutch but ultimately painful regulation finish. On his final hole—his 36th of the day—he left himself with a 12-footer for birdie. But after a nerve-jangling three-putt for par, he dropped into a five-man playoff for the final qualifying spot in the upcoming U.S. Open at Oakmont.
That golden ticket went to Cameron Young, who buried the clutch birdie putt that sealed the deal. Homa, left battling for an alternate spot, came up just short on the very next hole.
While he kept quiet about the caddie drama, a small comment hinted at his emotional and mental state. “It seems like I do better when no one’s standing next to me,” Homa said. “Maybe I needed that quiet walk—no distractions, just me. Had to battle some demons, face the challenge solo. And maybe that helped a bit.”
The split from caddie Bill Harke, who’d been on the bag for just two months, hasn’t been fully explained. A source familiar with the situation said Harke simply “lost his job,” but no official word came from Homa himself. The source remained anonymous, noting that the story should come from Homa directly—though he’s clearly not ready to elaborate.
This all comes amid a season of change for Homa. Just a year ago, he was riding high as World No. 10, playing some of the best golf of his career. Fast forward to now, and it’s been a whirlwind: equipment changes, a new swing coach, and a breakup with his longtime caddie right before the Masters. Now, for the first time in years, he's playing completely solo.
Despite the chaos behind the scenes, Homa showed fight on the course. During the second round at Kinsale, he hit a rough patch, leaving a chip in the rough on his ninth hole and carding a double bogey. He followed that with a bogey, but bounced back with back-to-back birdies, a sign of grit and mental toughness.
With a strong second shot to 25 feet on the par-5 ninth—his last hole—he looked set to secure a qualifying spot. But his uphill birdie putt cruelly looped around the hole and spun back 6 feet, setting up a deflating three-putt for par that left him at 5-under 139.
“I didn’t feel tired while I was playing,” Homa said. “When you’re near the cutoff line, there’s too much adrenaline pumping to think about your legs. It hit me after that last putt missed. That’s when I started to feel it.”
Not having a caddie meant more than just carrying his own clubs—it meant making every shot decision alone. Homa admitted it led him to play a bit more cautiously, especially on a course he wasn’t familiar with. Still, he believes there was a silver lining in walking the fairways solo.
“I might do it more often,” he said. “There’s something peaceful about it. You have to rely on yourself. No one to talk to, no one to second-guess. Just you and the game.”
When pressed one last time about the caddie situation, Homa leaned in and whispered, “I wanted to carry for 36 holes. Everyone’s going to ask about it, but that’s the truth.”
Though he didn’t earn a direct spot into the U.S. Open, Homa’s chances aren’t dead yet. He’s teeing it up this week at the Canadian Open, and if he can put together a win, he might sneak into the top 60 and punch his ticket to Oakmont.
Whether he’s flying solo or not, one thing’s clear—Max Homa isn’t afraid of a little weight on his shoulders.
Description:
"Max Homa carries his own bag at the U.S. Open qualifier, opens up about caddie split, and fights for a spot at Oakmont in a solo 38-hole battle."