Cal Golf: Max Homa Finishes 2nd at Genesis Invitational Behind Red-Hot Jon Rahm

Max Homa didn’t win The Genesis Invitational, but it took the hottest golfer in the world to beat the former Cal star on Sunday.

Homa, 32, finished second in a PGA Tour event for the first time in his career, only because new world No. 1 Jon Rahm was a little bit better.

Rahm began the day with a three-stroke lead and fought off a rally from Homa, sho got within a single stroke. Homa bogeyed No. 13 and Rahm sank a 45-foot birdie putt on 14 to reassert himself and he went on to secure his fifth victory in his past nine starts.

Even so, Homa has soared to No. 2 in the updated FedEx Cup standings, behind only Rahm, and sits at a career-best No. 8 in the official world golf rankings, climbing four spots after Sunday’s round.

Rahm, the 28-year-old who attended Arizona State, shot a final-round 69 to win by two strokes. He earned his 10th career PGA Tour victory, topping Seve Ballesteros’ record of nine for the most by a Spanish-born player.

Afterward, Rahm described himself as exhausted. “Max brought a lot here,” he said. “I’m just glad I could hold on.”

Homa shot a final-round 3-under 68 and finished four days at the Riviera Country Club with a score of minus-15. Trailing by two strokes as he teed it up on 18, he nearly sank a miracle chip shot for birdie, the ball hitting the flag and somehow dancing over the hole.

So close for Max Homa. pic.twitter.com/cqPhaY5BJt
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 19, 2023

That prompted Homa to briefly sink to his knees in disappointment but he gathered himself and made his par putt to secure sole possession of second place. A winner six times on the tour, Homa had never previously finished second.

Homa, a native of Southern California who won this tournament in 2021 just as his career was shifting gears, was emotional afterward.

"I'm very proud," Homa told reporters. "I did not have it off the tee today, but man, I fought. I really just wanted to push him..."

Then he paused to compose himself.

"I don't know why this is happening now," Homa said. "I've been fine for 15 minutes."

“I’mma win it again.”

An emotional interview with @MaxHoma23 after coming up just short @TheGenesisInv. pic.twitter.com/3xY4Penv68
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 20, 2023

While Rahm took home a $3.6 million share of the $20 million total purse, Homa was rewarded with a cool $2.18 million.

"Pretty incredible," Rahm said. "(To win) at a golf course with this legacy, this history and hosted by Tiger Woods, is such an honor."

In just five starts in 2023, Rahm has won $9,402,750.

Homa said Rahm helped push him to greater heights.

"I wanted to make him beat me, and I think I did that. I let him off the hook on 13, but man, it was cool to see myself push him and not feel like I had 100% of my game," he said. "I played great everywhere but off the tee on that back nine, but it is what it is. I was going to have to put up a pretty remarkable score. I think it's pretty amazing going against someone like Jon. You know he's going to play well, so it's almost comforting knowing you're just going to have to play better, he's not going to fold.

"So, I'm not disappointed in my golf, I'm just disappointed in the ending."

Homa recalled winning here two years ago, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when fans were not allowed at the event.

"When I won in '21, nobody was here, and it hurts me not to be able to do that with everyone here, my family and friends. But I tried, man," said Homa, once more becoming emotional. "Sorry, this tournament just means a lot to me. It's like an emotional release. But yeah, the support I get here is so cool.

"I'm going to win it again and be able to do it in front of all these people. Yeah, that's that."

Fellow Cal grad Collin Morikawa finished in a tie for sixth place with Sahith Theegala at 11 under after a final-round 67, and earned $700,000.

Homa, who already has won twice on the tour this season, was the co-leader at Pacific Palisades after Thursday’s opening, then alone at the top after Friday. His four rounds: 64-68-69-68.

Home began the day with a birdie, then had did the same thing on Nos. 3 and 7 before a bogey on No. 8. Birdies on 9 and 10 brought him within a stroke of the the lead.

But Rahm has been a golfing machine the past couple months, and Homa got no closer.

Morikawa, who dropped one spot to No. 10 in the latest OWGR, made birdies on Nos. 1 and 5 and bogeys at 7 and 10. He was even par for the day before a flurry at the finish, where he birdies No. 16, made an eagle on 17 and a birdie on 18 to finish at minus-4 for the day.

He was tied for fifth until Round 1 co-leader Keith Mitchell made a long birdie putt on 18 to push Morikawa down one spot.

Patrick Cantlay finished third at minus-14, just one stroke back of Homa, and Will Zalatoris was fourth at 13 under.

Woods, playing his first official tournament since The Open at St. Andrews last July, had five bogeys on Sunday and wound up with a final-day 73 and at minus-1 for the tournament, 16 strokes behind Rahm and tied for 45th place.

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

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo

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