Month: January 2023

MAX HOMA EARNS SIXTH TOUR TITLE AT FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN The roller coaster of Max Homa's career has reached unprecedented heights of late. Anchored by a consistent hope, the upward trend is only continuing. Homa earned his sixth PGA TOUR title in a Saturday finish at the Farmers Insurance Open, carding a final-round, 6-under 66 at Torrey Pines' South Course for a two-stroke victory over Keegan Bradley at 13 under. Homa trailed 54-hole leader Sam Ryder by five strokes into the final round outside San Diego but played a nearly flawless round with six birdies and a bogey, highlighted by birdies on both of the back nine's difficult par 3s, to emerge with the Farmers' signature surfboard trophy. Homa has won in four of his last 29 starts on TOUR; he accrues 500 FedExCup points and moves to No. 2 on the season-long standings. It's his fourth TOUR title in his home state of California; he remembers attending the Farmers as a high schooler, and this marks his first victory as a dad - son Cam Andrew was born last November and was on the scene at Torrey. Homa, who lost his TOUR card twice early in his career, is set to ascend into the world's top 15 for the first time. Don't expect him to stop now. "I always remind myself that, ‘You've seen the darkness of this game. Enjoy this. Enjoy the beauty of it.' People chanting my name, things I could have never imagined," Homa said in the Saturday twilight. He enjoyed it, indeed. PEBBLE BEACH BOUND The PGA TOUR returns to the golf paradise of Pebble Beach for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 2017 champion Jordan Spieth headlines the field, with Tom Hoge returning to defend. Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick are back in action for the first time since the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Hovland has had a solid 2022-23 campaign thus far, plus a victory at the Hero World Challenge. Joel Dahmen is set to join the field and tee it up on TOUR for the first time since becoming a father on Jan. 19. Other notables include Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson and former FedExCup Champion Justin Rose. Ben Silverman, who won on the Korn Ferry Tour last week in the Bahamas, is among the sponsor exemptions. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will once again use its three-course rotation: Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula CC. Among the 156 celebrities teeing it up this week are recently-retired soccer superstar Gareth Bale, NFL QBs Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen, and plenty of big names from entertainment and music including Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, and of course, Bill Murray. The winner at Pebble will take home 500 FedExCup points. VIDEO OF THE WEEK MIC CHECK "There was definitely a lot of new pressure, but it was fun ... I think it's only going to feed me." - Farmers 54-hole leader Sam Ryder, who played with Jon Rahm and Tony Finau on Sunday en route to a T4 finish. BY THE NUMBERS 3 – Marcus Byrd earned his third APGA Tour title at the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational, carding 4 over for 36 holes at Torrey Pines, five clear of the field in the Golf Channel-televised event. Byrd earns a spot in next month's The Honda Classic, a week after receiving the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption into The Genesis Invitational. 2 – Ben Silverman claimed his second win on the Korn Ferry Tour with a playoff victory at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club on the Korn Ferry Tour. 5 – Max Homa’s last five wins on TOUR have been come from behind victories COMCAST BUSINESS TOUR TOP 10 The Comcast Business TOUR TOP 10 highlights and rewards the extraordinary level of play required to earn a spot in the TOP 10 at the conclusion of the FedExCup Regular Season as determined by the FedExCup standings. The competition recognizes and awards the most elite in golf.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy watched his 15-foot birdie putt roll into the cup, clenched his fist and let out a roar to celebrate a victory. McIlroy finished birdie-birdie to shoot 4-under 68 and win by a stroke from Reed, who shot 65. The 33-year-old had won last season's DP World Tour's season-long Race to Dubai as well as the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup. “Mentally, today was probably one of the toughest rounds I have ever had to play because it would be really easy to let your emotions get in the way,” McIlroy said. “I just had to really focus on myself and forget who was up there on the leaderboard.” “This is probably sweeter than it should be,” McIlroy said. McIlroy started a year with a win for the first time in his career — he has come close numerous times in nearby Abu Dhabi, where he has typically chosen to play his year-opening tournament — and backed up victories at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009 and 2015. Needing a birdie at the last to win, McIlroy’s drive on No. 18 dribbled into the rough beside the water to the right of the fairway — he watched it all the way, clearly fearing the worst — and he decided to lay up. His third shot from 92 yards was close enough and the world No. 1 rolled in the putt. McIlroy finished on 19-under overall. He wound up winning with his B game and was particularly proud how he held up down the last, having hit shots into the water in front of the green on Sunday and also in the final round last year, costing him the title. “It was a battle all day — honestly, it’s been a battle all week,” McIlroy. “I feel as if I haven’t had my best all week but just managed my game so well and played really smart. Even that second shot at the last. I probably could have got to the green but with what happened yesterday and last year, I tried to give myself a wedge and get it up and down for the win. “Ecstatic that I gave myself the opportunity the first week back out. I managed my game well.” Lucas Herbert of Australia shot 66 and placed third, three strokes behind McIlroy.

The PGA-LIV beef gets a bit petty. Max Homa keeps playing well while Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler are also looking good. Here’s what’s happening on the PGA Tour.