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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – These are just numbers, usually separated by commas and zeros at the end. In this case, they represent gains in golf, numbers that have become so important that we have become numb.
No longer used as a reference to determine the ranking of the PGA Tour, money is always important. FedEx points do not spend, but cold and hard money do it. And if you're a professional golfer paying your own way across the country while struggling to pair, these big numbers may seem like a dream.
There was Max Homa on Sunday at Quail Hollow, apparently on his way to his first PGA Tour victory with a score of 4 under 67 at the Wells Fargo Championship – and $ 1.42 million in winnings.
We shrug our shoulders. Good golfers make millions. Justin Rose, tied for third, has won more than $ 2.5 million this year and is not even in the top 10. Matt Kuchar, who leads the FedEx Cup points and was defamed earlier this year because he had initially refused to pay a replacement basket of more than $ 5,000 after winning 1.2 million dollars has brought him more than 49 million in career.
Two years ago, Homa, 28, played a full tournament schedule for $ 18,008.
"I think I won more money in friendly matches on Monday than in tournaments," he said.
So yes, the $ 1.42 million he received Sunday may seem obscene (and to be sure, a good amount will be absorbed by taxes, shopping cart fees, accommodation, travel, etc.), but that means something very real for a player Two years ago, the cuts were missing at an alarming rate and put into question a game that seemed so easy for a while.
"Streaky, very bad" is what Homa said, and his self-deprecation is ultimately what helped him cope with his discomfort.
"I have grown a lot," said Homa, 28, who played at the University of California before becoming a professional. "My attitude is amazing today.I am not too much about myself.I have an awesome caddy [Joe Greiner] who does not leave me. If I'm silent, he shouts at me and tells me that quiet golfers are usually very mean to themselves. So we have a good thing to do. & # 39; & # 39;
Homa won the 2013 NCAA Individual title at Cal. Later that year, he was part of the same American Walker Cup team as Justin Thomas. Both turned professional, they both made their professional debut on the PGA Tour as Safeway Open, where Homa tied for ninth. And both went to the PGA Tour in 2015.
But while Thomas ended up becoming one of the best players in the world (he has nine titles on the PGA Tour, including a major championship), Homa is struggling to find his way.
He lost his circuit board following the 2015 season and had to return to the Web.com Tour. He recovered, then only made two of the 17 cuts in 2017, competing at a score of 61 by the normal and standing outside the top 1,000 in the world.
Even after returning to the PGA Tour this season, he missed his first six cups, then slowly began to enjoy success – though he never played this match until the first day. this week-end. He started in 2019 at 836th in the world and 417th at the beginning of the week.
Improving driving has been a big part of recovery, leading to trust.
"Every time I drive well, I feel good," said Homa. "I've had real pennies with my pilot a few years ago here, I do not remember what was my worst, but it was embarrassing.I was knocking like seven provisional tournaments.
"So, when I know where I can put myself and I have a good game plan, I am very confident because I really think that I am an excellent iron player." Of all the things where you could have my self-esteem is always my favorite genre, so when I have the driver who plays like that, I feel good because the fake ball no longer feels like I've never touched one in God knows how long, that's where it's difficult, because you just wait for a very bad player, then it becomes embarrassing and your score gets worse very quickly. "
What he will probably remember from his week is that it was not a coincidence. After opening the tournament with a 69, he shot 8 under 63 normal on Friday without a bogue. Jason Dufner and Joel Dahmen scored 70 points on Saturday. Rory McIlroy has only two backs and Rose and Sergio Garcia on the lookout.
But Homa has never flinched. He made two birdies on the top nine and two more on the first two holes in the back, and he was not troubled by the one-hour delay. He finished three shots in front of Dahmen.
Before the Wells Fargo, Homa had three top-10s in 68 tries in the PGA Tour events, one of them being part of her very first event.
He now has a win, a place in the PGA Championship (his first major championship as a professional) and the 2020 Masters – and nearly 100 times more winnings for a single tournament than in a grueling 2017 season.
"As if I were in a dream, I think," says Homa. "I did not know if that day would come, let alone keep my card, but it was very validating, I worked hard and I saw a lot of great results." . & # 39;
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