After 20-hour flight, Max Homa says he ‘may as well play some good golf’ as he’s tied for lead at Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa

Max Homa is taking a break from the PGA Tour but not golf.

Halfway around the world, Homa is tied for the lead at the halfway mark at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour.

Homa must like what he’s seeing at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa, as he’s yet to bogey a hole. He opened with a 66 and shot a second-round 68 to get to 10 under, where he shares the lead with Matthieu Pavon of France.

Homa has six wins on the PGA Tour but is seeking his first international victory.

“I’m very pleased, a little surprised, pleasantly surprised. It’s been nice, the body’s feeling better as the week’s gone on,” Homa said. “I woke up today and felt like a golfer again, so that was nice. It’s a real dream. If you fly 20-odd hours over here, you may as well play some good golf. So it’s nice that I’m doing that.”

Daniel Bradbury is solo third at 9 under. Tied for fourth at 8 under are Nicolai Hojgaard and Thorbjorn Olesen. Justin Thomas is in a group of six golfers tied for eighth at 6 under.

Tommy Fleetwood, the tournament’s two-time defending champ, is four shots back heading into the weekend.

Francesco Molinari (3 under), Justin Rose (even) and Robert MacIntyre (4 over) are also in the 66-man field.

Ahead of the tournament, Homa and JT went on a safari with their wives.