Max Homa Faces Career Low at Arnold Palmer Invitational: From Rising Star to Laughing Stock

Max Homa hasn’t had the best time lately when it comes to his golf scores. Once a top-10 player in the world, he has been struggling since last year. As he prepared for the Arnold Palmer Invitational from March 6-9, his recent performances raised a lot of eyebrows.

This year, Homa has missed the cut in two out of five events. A particularly tough outing saw him score 76-69 at the WM Phoenix Open, missing the cut by five shots. Since finishing T3 at last year’s Masters, he’s only managed one top-20 finish. These results have dropped him to his lowest ranking since April 2023, when he was as high as No. 5.

Some people believe his recent equipment change from Titleist to Cobra might be affecting his game. However, Homa disagrees. He believes it’s all on him, stating, “It’s my own fault. I’ve played poorly. But there’s been no golf club issue.” Last year, he fired his swing coach Mark Blackburn before working with John Scott Rattan. Sports analyst Bob Harig noted on social media that Homa’s struggles were evident, especially after scoring an 81 at Bay Hill, leading to even more criticism.

• As of February this year, Homa ranked 177th in Strokes Gained: Approach.
• After missing cuts at the WM Phoenix Open and the Genesis Open, he finished T26 at The Sentry and 53rd at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
• During the Cognizant Classic, while other players were moving up in the rankings, Homa’s situation worsened, dropping him to 66th.

Homa has openly expressed his frustration since last April. “I can find pride in waking up after a hard day and having the energy to go get better,” he mentioned. But the fans have been vocal about his poor start to the season.

This year, he failed to make the cut at both the WM Phoenix Open and the Genesis Invitational, scoring a combined 10 over par. It’s been tough for him, and some fans have been quick to criticize, wondering if he might be stuck in a rut.

On a brighter note, earlier this year, Homa became an ambassador for the Lululemon brand. He expressed his excitement about working with a company he already loved. However, some fans jokingly questioned the partnership given his recent play.

A few comments from fans have been harsher. Some have suggested he should quit competitive golf and start a podcast instead or even thought he might belong on the Korn Ferry Tour for a while. Still, others have shown sympathy, remembering how he used to dominate the course, especially during a successful run from 2021 to 2023 when he won five events.

Max Homa remains positive despite the challenges. He believes he can turn things around, but the question remains: will he bounce back and start posting better scores? Only time will tell if this tough season will define his career or lead him to rebuild his game.