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Max Homa: Fan-favorite and champion at Genesis Invitational

By Christopher O'Day

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Max Homa of the United States poses with the trophy after defeating Tony Finau of the United States (not pictured) in a playoff to win The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 21, 2021 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Max Homa of the United States poses with the trophy after defeating Tony Finau of the United States (not pictured) in a playoff to win The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 21, 2021 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Max Homa had two main things going for him heading into the Genesis Invitational that help paved his way to victory.

He finished T-7th last week at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, playing incredibly consistent golf throughout the week. Rounds of 69-70-68-68 saw him finish at -13, although he was a ways back of the eventual winner in Brooks Koepka, it was a step in the right direction.

Then, it was his familiarity and long relationship with Riviera, the course that the Genesis Invitational is held at. He grew up nearby, as anyone who watched this weekend was sure to hear, and likely more than once.

There’s an added element to that part of it though. Max Homa played well last year during the tournament, finishing in T-5th place. It’s a great combination to have success so recent in your mind, success at a course the last time there was a tournament played here, and the reliability and comfortable aspect from being from the area.

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It led to a final-round comeback for Max Homa, where he equaled his first-round score of 66.

He actually has a palindromic scorecard, as it reads the same front-to-back and vice versa… 66-70-70-66.

What might be more impressive than his final round score would be his third-round score. Yes, I know that there is a four-stroke difference there, but the weather and circumstances from Saturday’s round, and its subsequent finish on Sunday, were anything but simple. In fact, the average score for round three was the highest average score at Riviera in over 35 years.

There are plenty of perks that come along with his second career win, the other coming at the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship. Not only does Max Homa take home a cool $1.674 million, but for the first time in his life, he vaults into the top 50 of the OWGR. There are some great perks that come along with this that he is now able to take advantage of.

Once you make it to the top 50, you become eligible for the WGC event that is being held this weekend, this year at Concession in Florida instead of its regular Mexico location. He will also be eligible to come back to the Masters, where he will look to redeem himself after missing the cut in his first Augusta appearance in 2020.

Next. 2021 WGC-Workday Championship: Top 10 power rankings at The Concession. dark

It was a great week for Max Homa, and a happy site for all of us fans of golf’s best social media account to follow. He received a well-deserved win at the Genesis Invitational, launched up the leaderboard of the FedEx Cup standings, and has a great opportunity to take a leap during this year’s golf season.

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