2023 U.S. Open: Top 10 power rankings at Los Angeles Country Club

You’re going to hear a lot about Max Homa’s course record 61 at Los Angeles Country Club. Rightfully so.

That 9-under round to open the 2013 Pac-12 Championship helped him to win the individual title over names like Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm. Conditions and pin placements got tougher after round one, so closing scores of 70-71-69 held up well. Homa won by five shots over teammate Michael Weaver.

Homa lived out a dream by winning near where he grew up in Burbank by taking the 2021 Genesis Invitational down the road in Pacific Palisades. Winning a major in Los Angeles would take things to a whole other level.

While his major championship resume still has some work to do, Homa has played great golf on the PGA Tour this season. The 32-year-old successfully defended his title at the Fortinet Championship last fall and won again early in 2023 at the Farmers Insurance Open, another Southern California event.

Homa recorded his second top-10 in his last three starts when he last teed it up a couple weeks ago at the Charles Schwab Challenge (T-9th).

The Cal-Berkeley alum has made six of his last seven cuts in the majors. I see this week being the occasion to finally break through and land a top-10.

At the U.S. Open, Homa shook off a streak of missed cuts in his first three starts to take T-47th last year at The Country Club.

He ranks second on the PGA Tour in par-3 scoring average, which is nifty considering L.A.C.C. is a rare course with five par-3s.

Homa is in the positive in every per-round strokes gained statistic. He’s sixth in total SG (1.82) and fifth in putting (.741). Typically known most for his ball striking, it’s a great sign that his putter is coming around.

Homa’s not the greatest player out of the rough, so it could play to his advantage that this year’s U.S. Open doesn’t expect to be as lush as most.