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Cal Golf: Max Homa Fires Opening-Round 64, Shares the Lead at The Genesis

Fellow Golden Bear alum Collin Morikawa is just 2 strokes back after a strong finish.
Jeff Faraudo|
Cal Golf: Max Homa Fires Opening-Round 64, Shares the Lead at The Genesis
Cal Golf: Max Homa Fires Opening-Round 64, Shares the Lead at The Genesis

Two years ago at Riviera Country Club, Max Homa won a sudden-death playoff against Tony Finau to capture The Genesis Invitational. It was his second PGA tour victory and his biggest payday.

On Thursday, the 32-year-old Cal grad assembled a 7-under round of 64 to emerge as the Day 1 co-leader at the event whose total purse has been bumped to $20 million.

“It just felt like every aspect of my game felt good, good enough to shoot under par,” Homa said.

Meanwhile, fellow Cal grad Collin Morikawa is tied for fourth place and just two strokes back after posting birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to complete a 5-under round of an opening-round 66.

The crowds at Pacific Palisades came to see Tiger Woods in his first official start since the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews last July, and the 47-year-old birdied his final three holes to finish with a 2-under 69. He is five strokes back of the co-leaders but part of a 17-way tie for 27th place and in decent shape to make it to the weekend.

Max Homa hits a poor shot into the sand on No. 10, but then holes out from the bunker:

Homa, already twice a winner this season, carded eight birdies and a single bogey to open the tournament. He started on the back nine and chipped for birdie from the bunk on No. 10 to get his day started.

“That was probably the coolest way I’ve ever started a round,” Homa said. “I thought I collected myself. I knew I hadn’t done a whole lot wrong so trusted my bunker game. I hit a very good bunker shot, I will say, but that was a nice boost.

“It felt like it was going to be one of those ‘hang on days’ and to start with the circle on the scorecard, it just eases you as you start a tournament,” he said.

Ranked No. 12 in the world, Homa continues to play the best golf of his life. When he won this event two years ago, Woods was on hand to present him the winner’s trophy, prompting Homa to call the moment “a dream come true.”

He and his wife now had their first baby last fall and Homa is in a groove. “My irons felt so good today it felt like then it was just kind of turn your brain off and hit the thing,” Homa said.

Homa makes a birdie putt on No. 8

First prize this weekend is $3.6 million — more than twice the $1.67 million Homa pocketed in 2021.

Homa was alone atop the leaderboard in the clubhouse until Mitchell, a 31-year-old Georgia grad who is ranked No. 56 in the world, closed out his round of 64 that mirrored what Homa did with eight birdies and one bogey.

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Morikawa, the two-time major champion who is still without a win on the tour the past two seasons, put together after a bogey-free round. He made birdies on No. 1, 8, 11, 17 and 18 to climb into a three-way tie with Matt Kuchar and Harris English.

Jon Rahm, ranked No. 3 in the world, is alone in third place, one stroke off the pace at minus-6. Rory McIlroy is tied for seventh, three off the pace at minus-4 and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is tied for 44th place at 1-under 70.

Here is an interview with Homa from Wednesday:

Cover photo of Max Homa by Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today

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Jeff Faraudo
JEFF FARAUDO

Jeff Faraudo was a sports writer for Bay Area daily newspapers since he was 17 years old, and was the Oakland Tribune's Cal beat writer for 24 years. He covered eight Final Fours, four NBA Finals and four Summer Olympics. 

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