Augusta (United States) (AFP) – One year after he shared the 36-hole Masters lead on the way to a tie for third, Max Homa was more than happy just to make the cut on Friday at Augusta National. It has been a brutal 12 months for the American, a six-time US PGA Tour winner between 2019 and 2013 who has slumped from fifth in the world to 81st. He missed five straight cuts coming into the Masters but he was headed to the weekend after birdies at three of Augusta’s par-fives gave him a two-under 70 on Friday for an even par total of 144.
“It’s awesome,” the Californian said. “This has been just not fun at all.” Things got so bad that Homa recently split with longtime caddie Joe Greiner, a childhood friend, in a move that Homa said was “not my choice.” Even his opening round of the Masters was fraught, featuring a shot from the rough that hit an unobservant marshal in the back to prompt plenty of social media comment.
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Overall, however, Homa said his two rounds were pretty similar, and slightly encouraging. “Yesterday played a brilliant first 12 holes and lost my swing, and I feel like I did a better job of, like, playing the game and fixing it when I’m done,” he said. “Today was a bit similar. I got off to a really good start with the swing, wasn’t holing putts, stayed patient. Made one loose swing on nine and didn’t let it freak me out.”
“So you’re always trying to learn and evolve,” Homa said. “I know I’m only even and whatever, eight back, but it does feel good to not beat myself out here. So that was nice.”
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