Max Homa and Patrick Cantlay Have Inside Info on LACC North

Whether it means they are favored or not, Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa certainly have hometown knowledge of Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course where this week’s U.S. Open is being played.

“I played golf at UCLA just right down the road for a couple years, so played here dozens of times,” Cantlay said in his pre-tournament press conference. “It’s definitely familiar. Feels a little like a home game. I’m definitely going to have a bunch of family and friends out this week.”

Max Homa is currently the course record holder, so he knows how to shoot a score there.

"“I can’t wait for the event to start to hear all the noise,” Homa said in his meeting with media. “Riviera this year was wild. I can’t imagine if something like that were to happen here.”"

In discussing the course, Cantlay pointed out that it is seldom that the U. S. Open is played on Bermuda. He also noted that they almost never see fairways as wide as La North’s. However, he doesn’t think they will play as wide as they measure, which in many places is over 40 yards.

The course in general he called “an extreme collection of really tough holes” followed by some holes where players can make birdie.

"“Some of the par-5s, like 8 and then the drivable hole, 6, although they kind of tricked that up so it’ll play I think more difficult than it ever has for sure, there’s just holes where you feel like you should definitely make birdies,” he explained."

In his favor is the comfort factor of knowing where to hit the ball, and importantly, where not to hit it on the course.

"“It’s still the same golf course,” he noted. “It just is playing a little tougher, a little firmer and faster than I’ve seen.”"

Cantlay plays with Jordan Spieth and Tony Finau for rounds one and two.

"Does he have another 61 in him?  Well, he said that when he shot it, it could have, should have – you know golfers – been a 59."

Max Homa is also looking forward to the U.S. Open.

“It’s just a really great golf course in my favorite city in the world, so it’s nice to be here,” he said with a smile.

He should be smiling. The course record he shot was a 61.

“I played with JT yesterday, and he probably could have shot 61 if we had played 18 holes,” Homa said.

However, nobody expects that kind of a round this week.

Max Homa noted that having the sun break out from under the June Gloom marine layer, which most of us would call coastal fog, was a good sign. He said it should make the course faster and firmer.  Homa’s hoping for carnage, he insisted. And then he smiled kind of a wicked smile, like he was thinking the harder it gets the more I’m going to love it.

His quick analysis of the course is that it is a second-shot track.

"“The greens are severe, and if they keep getting firmer and faster, I think it’ll be a really good test,” he added. “A quality shot will go to a good spot, and one that’s not great is going to go to a bad spot,and you’re going to see a lot of silliness go on.”"

He also has a lot of friends and family who will be cheering him on this week.

"“It’s really cool that last night I got to have dinner with two of my best friends,” Homa noted. “My dad was out there walking the practice round today. Stuff like that never gets to happen.”"

In terms of how to play one hole in particular, the short par 3 15h, Max Homa said that in the PAC-12s, everybody’s goal was to hit the ball with as much spin as they could muster. Most of them teed the ball up even though the shot is about 80 yards.

“You’re going to need it to be coming in soft with as much spin as you can,” he advised.

Does he have another 61 in him?  Well, he said that when he shot it, it could have, should have – you know golfers – been a 59.

“I remember not getting up-and-down from the front bunker on 6 for birdie, and I remember three-putting 8,” he recalled.

So, he left a few out on the course that day. He did birdie 14 through 17, though, adding that it just felt so easy that day.

Despite his past success on the course, when the tee times begin for real on Thursday, it’s unlikely to feel easy for Max Homa or anyone.

Homa plays with Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler in round one and two.