Max Homa made his South African debut on the Nedbank Golf Problem this week and he conquered the Gary Participant Nation Membership. He fired off a ultimate spherical 66 to complete at 19-under, beating Nicolai Højgaard by 4 photographs and Thorbjørn Olesen by 5.
Following his win, Homa took to social media with a hysterically self-deprecating message for followers:
The California native began the day with a one-shot lead. Olesen briefly caught him on the entrance 9 as he made 4 birdies in his first six holes.
Nonetheless, Homa didn’t let the Danish golfer’s sizzling begin rattle him.
The American birdied the 2nd and third holes. After dropping a shot on the par-3 4th, he bounced again with two extra birdies on 5 and 6.
His unbelievable 245-yard second shot on the par-5 ninth set him up for a prolonged eagle putt. He made the 18-footer and to maintain his momentum onto the again 9.
“It’s been a dream 10 or 11 days,” Homa stated. “It was a loopy day – I received off to such a terrific begin, and Thorbjørn was taking part in unbelievable. He stored pushing us alongside, and Nicolai was taking part in phenomenal golf, so it was enjoyable.”
Olesen birdied the par-5 tenth gap whereas Homa bogeyed the par-4 eleventh. From there, it seemed like it might be a wild end in South Africe.
However Olesen, the 7-time DP World Tour winner, made two pricey errors on 12 and 13 posting back-to-back bogeys.
Homa made three essential pars earlier than including two extra birdies on 15 and 16 to get some separation. He would cruise from there to victory.
Højgaard stored his card clear with a bogey-free 4-under 68 to take solo second place.
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Photograph by Warren Little/Getty Photographs
Homa captured South Africa’s nationwide open, but it surely was your complete expertise that he’ll bear in mind endlessly.
“It’s sort of what you dream of. You need to be within the combat, and it was simply enjoyable to sort of shut it out on the finish,” Homa stated. “It was a type of weeks the ball wished to go in when it wanted to go in.
“It’s been super to get to journey to a brand new place, meet so many superb individuals — the followers have been superb. Everybody has been so welcoming and sort. To return out with a trophy is only a cherry on prime.”
Fellow American Justin Thomas shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to complete fourth. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood completed at 7-under and in a tie for twelfth place.
This ‘main’ marks Homa’s first worldwide win of his profession. It might not be an official main championship victory, but it surely was a giant one for the previous Cal-Berkeley Golden Bear..
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You may observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.