After a difficult season on the PGA Tour, Max Homa is making a change.
Homa revealed Wednesday, before the first day of the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal in Quebec, that he had parted ways with longtime coach Mark Blackburn earlier this fall.
“It’s just a tough year, it’s time for a change,” Homa said. “It’s unfortunate. I love Mark, he’s basically part of my family. …But sometimes communication becomes difficult. I think everyone here has experienced this at some point. It’s one of those things, more for me, I need a break and sometimes I can’t get my own grip on my own golf swing, so I kind of put the ball in my court and, you know , I’m trying to figure it out myself.
Homa, who has won six times on the PGA Tour during his career, started the year strong. He even finished T3 at the Masters in April. But the second half of his season largely fell apart. After missing the cut at the US Open in June, Homa finished better than 61st just twice in his final six starts of the season. He reached the BMW Championship playoffs, but failed to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship the following week. He then missed the cut at the Procore Championship earlier this month.
Homa, who once reached No. 7 in the Official World Golf Rankings in 2024, entered Royal Montreal this week ranked No. 25. It’s been a steady decline for months now.
“I wasn’t doing well with the club and just felt like I was throwing mud at the wall all year and not finding anything that would stick,” Homa said.
Homa worked his way into the U.S. Presidents Cup team this week as the captain’s pick, although he was not selected to play in Thursday’s fourball matches to open the event. He is sure to see some action later this weekend, ahead of Sunday’s singles matches.
Even though he’s been frustrated all year, Homa tries to keep things in perspective. After all, a third place at Augusta National and a spot on the Presidents Cup team isn’t so bad.
“It’s just something that as you get older you start to realize these things,” Homa said. “If your bad situation isn’t great, then you’re in the playoffs and all those things, that’s an important thing to keep in mind. …I’m just trying to keep breathing. It won’t be a straight line.