Tag: Gary Player Country Club

Max Homa earns first international win at Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa

Next week the European-based tour heads to Dubai for its season finale DP World Tour Championship.

Max Homa was a winner on Sunday, but it wasn’t on the PGA Tour.

The 32-year-old is sitting pretty in Sun City, South Africa, after picking up his first international win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the penultimate event of the DP World Tour season.

Playing on an invitation, Homa fired a 6-under 66 at Gary Player Country Club to finish at 19 under for the tournament, four shots ahead of runner-up Nicolai Hojgaard (68). This weekend was Homa’s first appearance since his 3½-point performance in his Ryder Cup Debut last month in Italy.

“It’s kind of what you dream of, you want to be in the fight and it was just fun to kind of close it out at the end,” Homa said. “It was one of those weeks the ball wanted to go in when it needed to go in.”

Homa is a six-time winner on the PGA Tour and last claimed victory at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open. In 25 events last season, the Cal product earned two wins, one runner-up and 18 top-25 finishes. He finished ninth in the FedEx Cup standings and earned $10,761,517 in official prize money.

Thorbjorn Olesen (69) finished third at 14 under, with Justin Thomas (66) in fourth at 12 under. Dan Bradbury (71) rounded out the top five at 11 under. Two-time defending champion Tommy Fleetwood (72) finished T-12 at 7 under.

Next week the European-based tour heads to Dubai for its season finale DP World Tour Championship.

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Max Homa leads in South Africa with chance at first DP World Tour title

Max Homa has a one-shot lead in South Africa with 18 holes to play.

Max Homa has a chance to do something Sunday he has never done before.

The 32-year-old American can win his first event on the DP World Tour, as he holds the 54-hole lead at the 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa. Homa shot 3-under 69 on Saturday and holds a one-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round.

Homa played the front nine in even-par, but he started the back nine with an eagle on the par-5 10th. He added another birdie on the par-5 14th to card a 33 on the back.

Ranked eighth in the world, Homa has six wins on the PGA Tour but hasn’t won on the DP World Tour. That can change Sunday, but there’s an experienced pack chasing him.

Matthieu Pavon, who was tied with Homa after 36 holes, sits solo second at 12 under after a 2-under performance. Nicolai Hojgaard and Thorbjorn Oleson are tied for third at 11 under.

Justin Thomas, who went on a safari adventure with Homa last week, is T-10 at 6 under. He shot even-par in the third round.

After 20-hour flight, Max Homa says he ‘may as well play some good golf’ as he’s tied for lead at Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa

“I woke up today and felt like a golfer again, so that was nice.”

Max Homa is taking a break from the PGA Tour but not golf.

Halfway around the world, Homa is tied for the lead at the halfway mark at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour.

Homa must like what he’s seeing at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa, as he’s yet to bogey a hole. He opened with a 66 and shot a second-round 68 to get to 10 under, where he shares the lead with Matthieu Pavon of France.

Homa has six wins on the PGA Tour but is seeking his first international victory.

“I’m very pleased, a little surprised, pleasantly surprised. It’s been nice, the body’s feeling better as the week’s gone on,” Homa said. “I woke up today and felt like a golfer again, so that was nice. It’s a real dream. If you fly 20-odd hours over here, you may as well play some good golf. So it’s nice that I’m doing that.”

Daniel Bradbury is solo third at 9 under. Tied for fourth at 8 under are Nicolai Hojgaard and Thorbjorn Olesen. Justin Thomas is in a group of six golfers tied for eighth at 6 under.

Tommy Fleetwood, the tournament’s two-time defending champ, is four shots back heading into the weekend.

Francesco Molinari (3 under), Justin Rose (even) and Robert MacIntyre (4 over) are also in the 66-man field.

Ahead of the tournament, Homa and JT went on a safari with their wives.

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