Just hours after Michelle Wie West’s viral post reminded the world how deeply intertwined mental health and self-worth are with golf scores, Max Homa lived that truth in real-time.
The 6-time PGA Tour winner came heartbreakingly close to ending his 18-month drought at the 2025 John Deere Classic, only to watch it slip away in the final stretch. His last win came in 2023 at the Farmers Insurance Open.
This week, fans saw Homa claw his way into contention at the John Deere Classic, reminding the world that he is an elite player.
After a frustrating season marked by a complete overhaul of his swing and mindset, his missing cuts, and parting ways with his long-time caddie, it seems the 34-year-old is heading in the right direction.
Homa’s week at TPC Deere Run started on a tear. He opened with a scorching 8-under 63, his lowest round of the season.
The 34-year-old stayed in contention with back-to-back 68s for the second and third rounds.
But on Sunday, at TPC Deere Run, it was one shot, a pulled drive on the par-4 15th, that flipped the script.
His tee shot found the left rough, leading to a bogey that dropped him into a tie.
Homa finished at 16-under overall after a final-round 2-under 69 to close the tournament.
He settled for a six-way tie for fifth with Matt Kuchar, Lucas Glover, Carson Young, Jacob Bridgeman, and Kurt Kitayama.
The former Cal Golden Bear finished one stroke shy of the playoff between Brian Campbell and Emiliano Grillo.
Campbell, who won his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Mexico Open in February, claimed his second playoff title at the John Deere Classic.
But he isn’t going home with nothing. This finish was the fan favorite’s first top-10 of the year, and he will take home a solid $344,400 payout from the $8.4 million purse.
“I think taking what we’ve been doing this week and using that to go forward… I plan to be in this position a lot more,” Homa said after his round on Saturday.
There seems to be no doubt that Homa is coming back into form ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open.
