Two people we have highlighted on these pages in the past: Daniel Berger and Max Homa kept it together and won a couple of the notable tournaments on the 2021 schedule.
Homa’s win at Riviera Country Club was particularly instructive, as he missed a 3 foot putt on 18 that would have won the event, only to make an incredible recovery on the first playoff hole after his tee shot came to rest next to a tree trunk. Most people watching assumed Homa had effectively lost the tournament but he managed to hit a great 2nd shot and then two-putted to extend the match with Tony Finau, who had things in his hands before spotty putting sunk him.
Berger had an easier go of it and he was terrific when it mattered most, hitting a beautiful 2nd shot onto 18 during the final round, which he would go on to lock up with an eagle and a 2 shot margin of victory.
As recently as 2017, Homa was ranked outside of the top 1,000 golfers in the world and he began this year ranked #836, which makes his 3 shot victory at Quail Hollow so shocking. He finished Saturday’s round tied for the lead with Rory Mcilroy and Justin Rose not far behind him. Going into the final round it must be hard knowing the world’s #1 ranked player (Rose) is right behind you. Rather than hoping for Rose to fall down a stairwell and withdraw from the tournament, Homa kept it together and credits his attitude as one of the reasons he was able to finish strong on Sunday and win the tournament.
"I've grown up a lot. My attitude is awesome nowadays. I don't really get too down on myself. I have an awesome, awesome caddie [Joe Greiner] who doesn't let me. If I'm quiet, he yells at me and tells me quiet golfers are usually very mean to themselves. So, we have a good thing going.''
This is the kind of underdog we like to root for when we watch tour events, and it reminds us of the importance of playing golf with the right mindset.
