Entering this week’s Wyndham Championship at No. 106 in the FedExCup standings, Max Homa faces a razor-thin path to the playoffs. The top 70 players after this week advance to the FedExCup Playoffs, and he’ll likely need a solo second-place finish or better to have any shot. It’s a steep climb, but far from impossible for a player who’s been counted out before and came back.
The six-time PGA TOUR winner opened with a 4-under 66 on Thursday, five shots back of close friend Joel Dahmen, who’s also battling on the bubble at No. 101. Despite his position, Homa is already fully exempt on TOUR through 2028, but what’s at risk is his Signature Events eligibility. This key status brings guaranteed starts in golf’s biggest non-major tournaments next year.
“It’s kind of freeing playing Thursday, not even thinking about anything but winning,” Homa said. “But back feels against the wall.”
Struggles, Adjustments, and a Turning Point
This has been a transition season for Homa. A new swing coach, a new caddie, and new equipment meant a tough adjustment period. He logged just one top-25 finish in his first 16 starts, falling to No. 122 in the standings by early July.
But at the John Deere Classic, something clicked. After a productive Wednesday range session, Homa surged to a T5 finish, led the front nine on Sunday, and finally found comfort in his swing again.
“Since that Wednesday, I don’t think I’ve had a bad ball-striking day,” Homa said.
He’s carried that momentum forward, flushing the ball at the 3M Open (despite finishing T39 due to a cold putter), and now again at Sedgefield, where he hit 15 of 18 greens and gained nearly four strokes on approach Thursday. But six missed putts inside 16 feet held him back — and he knew it.
“I really like where my game’s at,” he said. “I just have to start to make something.”
Experience in the Clutch
Homa’s proven he can come through when everything’s on the line. In 2018, he birdied four straight holes to make the cut in the Korn Ferry Tour finale, preserving his card and paving the way for his PGA TOUR return. A year later, he won his first TOUR title. He’s no stranger to pressure, and this week is no different.
Compared to fighting to keep a job, a fight for Signature Event status might feel like a lesser battle. But Homa isn’t ready to give up that ground just yet. With a second child on the way and his career secure, the stakes may be different — but the fire’s still there.
“If I can get some putts to go in, I could do some serious damage,” he said. “I intend to go down swinging.”
The next three days in Greensboro will decide whether Max Homa makes one more postseason push, or watches from the sidelines. Either way, he’s making it clear he’s grinding to try to make it in.
