PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Max Homa came into the Genesis Invitational having made five straight cuts, including a tie for seventh last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Credit a new-found sense of self for Homa.
Now, credit Homa with a second PGA Tour title. And it’s a big one for the Los Angeles native: the first-place check is good for $1,674,000 and with it comes a three-year PGA Tour exemption.
On Sunday, Homa gave chase from ahead, playing in the second-to-last group at Riviera Country Club. When Sam Burns bogeyed the 14th hole, Homa moved into a tie for the lead at 11 under. Homa kept bogey off his final-round scorecard while stacking up five birdies, including one on the 17th hole to get to 12 under.
Genesis Invitational: Leaderboard | Photos
Tony Finau was already in the clubhouse after shooting a final-round 64—tied for low round of the week—to get to 12 under. Homa striped his tee shot on 18 a massive 339 yards and then stuffed his approach to a back pin to about four feet. One more birdie would win it.
But Homa lipped out on the left side. He finished regulation at 12 under to force a playoff.
After they both parred the 10th to open the extra session, Homa made par on the par-3 14th while Finau bogeyed, giving Homa the win.
Homa opened the week with a 66 and then posted back-to-back 70s to get into contention. He closed out his second PGA Tour victory in playoff style, his first since the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship.
Sam Burns, aiming to go wire-to-wire at Riviera, had a three-shot lead on Homa and Finau after he birdied the ninth but he faltered down the stretch with bogeys on Nos. 12, 14 and 15. He did birdie 17 but parred 18 to miss the playoff by a shot to finish solo third.
Conditions on Sunday were just about perfect, a stark contrast to the high winds and fast golf course the players encountered on Saturday, which saw a four-hour delay to the blustery conditions.
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