GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN

July 9, 2022

Max Homa

The Renaissance Club

Quick Quotes Additional

Q. How you holding up?

MAX HOMA: Legs are a little tired, back is a little tight but 66 helps the body feel a little better.

Q. Talk about the 'Genesis' of how you got over there?

MAX HOMA: Genesis, sponsor plug. I saw the video years ago, it was of North Berwick and I was like, this is the coolest golf course in the world and all of the sudden it became my favourite I had never played.

When I saw we were staying here, I figured I would make over one day. Had some complications with Joe's clubs, didn't know what we were going to do and then it felt dead. Then got an invite from the assistant pro, Scott, and I just asked if we could come out after the round.

And yeah, I knew I was going to be beat but at the same time, it's like one of those once-in-a-lifetime things, for at least an American, and I would be kicking myself if I didn't play. And it was good practise for today, getting used to clubs in the wind, having a bit of fun and getting ready for next week. I don't know, I'm glad we did it.

Q. Who did you play with?

MAX HOMA: Two buddies came out, Otto and Tom. They came out with some beers. They were trying to get us to drink them but I knew I would feel even worse today. It was cool. The people around here, I find tremendously nice and kept doubling back and taking pictures and just, I don't know, you could tell the golf community around here is tight. It was a cool day.

Q. Did you hit the 16th green?

MAX HOMA: I almost did. I actually left in the most boring spot you could have a second shot from. I was two steps off the right side of the green and had the easiest chip over.

It was fun watching Joe and Mark, my coach, hit their second shots. Joe hit a 5-iron from 50 yards and ran it up-and-down the slope, and Mark hit a running shot out of the fescue. It looked a lot more fun. Mine was actually quite boring.

Q. Shortest par 5.

MAX HOMA: Yeah.

Q. Did you hit the wall or anything?

MAX HOMA: No. I did throw a ball down close to it to try to chip over it and that was fun. I don't know, it was cool going around with Scott because he was telling us where to hit it and what to hit because if he didn't, I would have hit driver and had no chance.

Q. You said it's your favourite course you had not played. Is it still your favourite?

MAX HOMA: It's up there. I've played -- the Bandon courses are really cool in Oregon. I like those a lot. Obviously North Berwick is up there. Riviera is up there for me. Riviera would be kind of a different style of those two.

But as far as true links goes, the history of it, too, if I factor that in, playing the first-ever --inaudible -- makes it neat. It was up there. It was definitely one of the best golf experiences I've ever had.

Q. What did you shoot?

MAX HOMA: I don't really know. We won our match so that's all that matters. I was scooping balls here and there. I we were trying to finish. I was a little tired. Probably a few under. I did eagle the eighth hole. I hit 3-wood from it 12 which was really fun, and so that is my claim to fame.

And Joe and I, actually our entire group, me, Mark, Joe and Scott all birdied 18. Joe was walking around the putting green today asking people if they birdied the 18th at North Berwick.

Q. Who were the teams?

MAX HOMA: Me and Joe against Mark and Scott. We drummed them.

Q. As a dog owner yourself, would you appreciate dogs kicking about the golf course?

MAX HOMA: Absolutely, that was cool. How do I phrase this -- on 17, Joe pulled a little up the right and Scott said, oh, don't worry, that's dog poop alley, which made me feel right at home.

Q. Eagle on 3 today.

MAX HOMA: Yeah, here, the golf tournament.

So yeah, tried to hit like a little fan 3-wood off the tee to keep it short of that bunker which I did. It left us a little longer in than we've had but I also had like a full perfect 3-wood and had a really good shot just long left of the green.

Had to pitch up the slope and hit a gap wedge and ran it up there and it was one of those chips that came out perfect and I read it really well. That was a nice bonus just because, you know, one 1, 2, awkward starts. 1 played a little easier today but to birdie 1 and par 2, I already felt we were moving the right direction and you stale one with the eagle the on 3.

Being 3-under out here is a very good feeling.

Q. ShotLink said you hit it 350. Does that sound about right?

MAX HOMA: My 3-wood? That sounds a little too far but let him juice me up.

Q. Have you ever played a casual round during a tournament before?

MAX HOMA: I'm sure I have. I definitely didn't walk. Yeah, I'm sure I have. Sometimes we'll go bounce around and go play -- now that I think about, it when we play the Palm Springs event, I'm a member at the Plantation Golf Course down there and we'll go play but I rarely play 18, and I have a cart and we play in like 45 minutes. It's a little different. The trolley was hard to maneuver. I should have just carried my bag.

Q. Did you think about Muirfield?

MAX HOMA: Yeah, Jerry is one of the main guys here had set me up to play. Joe had that club mishap, they lost them, so I was very bummed out to have to tell him I couldn't go. That's what made yesterday become like a must. Because I'm not having a tee time at North Berwick and Muirfield and saying no to both. I got North Berwick out of the way, and hopefully play Muirfield the next time we come by.

Q. Any more Scottish courses on the bucket list?

MAX HOMA: I'm sure there's a million on the bucket list. St Andrews is way up there, so I'm looking forward to next week.