MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2025

Max Homa

Quick Quotes

Q. I covered your win at Wells Fargo in 2022 and I was looking back at what you said and you were talking about how you were trying to make yourself feel confident. Talking yourself into self-belief that you were good enough to do what you did. You remember playing great then, but on the mental side do you feel a similar way now?

MAX HOMA: Yeah, I mean, I guess the difference is I know how good or how easy it can feel or be. Just having certain weeks where you kind of limp to 10th versus like playing great and in 50th or feeling good, you know?

So I guess that's the difference. I don't have to like talk myself up as much about what my ceiling is just more, I don't know how to put it, but just more like you're closer than you think type conversation.

Q. People might look at your past year or so and it seems like you've changed everything, and someone who might -- who doesn't know you might just want to know why.

MAX HOMA: Yeah, I mean, I can go through each of 'em, but pretty much since this week last year didn't hit it well for a long time. Felt like I was running in circles.

Mark Blackburn is I think one of the smartest people I've ever spoken to and an amazing coach, but it just felt like -- I mean, it was just time, which sucks. It's not like something you want to do.

And then the club stuff I had actually always been interested in Cobra. Contract was up, so tested it and the stuff was really good. Had never changed something to not get better.

Yeah, just like everything's been just because I want to just get better. The swing changes have been the biggest issue, I would say, or just like the thing that's taken the longest. But I would have still done what I did. I just wish I could catch on a little bit quicker.

But, yeah, I just, you don't want to flounder and so that's why I made all these changes. It's not just to make changes. I would never -- I know some people, like they say golfers like to blame things and then get rid of that and it's not their fault. It wasn't that. It's just I'm just trying to look to get better and reach my potential.

Q. You and Joe are obviously close and you would talk all the time about how much he did for you to help you get where you got. How hard was it to part with him?

MAX HOMA: Yeah, I mean, it was not my choice so it sucked, but we always had a deal that we're friends first and friendship mattered more than the work thing, and he was wise enough to do what he did.

It's hard. I'm just so used to him caddieing. And even just on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays, you just have this easy rhythm.

But I was happy that he did it, because I would rather -- you know, at the end of my days we continue to be great friends than one of us resent the other for how hard this game can be on a relationship.

So it sucks because I just pictured always walking fairways with Joe. But again, that's not -- that was not the deal. I would rather walk life with Joe forever than this dumb game. So it's been hard to process, but also good in a way, because friendship does matter more than any of this stuff.

Q. You say the swing changes are taking a long time. I'm sure there's moments when it feels great though.

MAX HOMA: Yeah, there's tons. Yeah, I don't really know how to explain it. I've never really gone through something like this where it's really good and then I'll get on a Thursday and doesn't really feel bad, it just isn't good.

Results have been awful. I haven't putted well this year either. It's just not helping. But so much attention has been to just the big stuff so that's been hard.

But, yeah, I mean it's not like far off. I hit the ball, when I'm going good on the range or at home I'm hitting it better than I can ever hit it. I'm shaping shots better than I ever shaped 'em. Do everything like great. Just still not used to certain misses. Still react to certain lies and things on the course. It's not like the range. When I get in a rhythm it seems to be the issue is hitting one at a time, waiting in between, different lies, different wind, different pins.

But been doing everything we can; just hasn't clicked yet.

Q. Nothing is flat here, but you do have the memory of a lot of success last year. Does that help at all?

MAX HOMA: Yeah, I think this course does have a lot of -- your memory of the place and how to play shots I think does matter a lot, so it's cool to have a year like last year where I think I have a really great game plan.

Even like playing in as windy as it was last year, although it won't be like that this year, it almost helped because you're going to have to overthink, if anything.

So I just feel like I have my like Plan B out here, certain shots I know I can pull off certain I know I probably can't and I think you end up playing the game a little bit better instead of just trying to kind of be perfect. This place will almost makes you be creative, something that I've not been doing a great job of and now that I know I can play the place I think it does help a lot.