Ten U.S. Ryder Cup players are in the field at this week’s Procore Championship, although one of the Americans’ best players in the most recent Ryder Cup, Max Homa, isn’t among that group.
Homa is in Napa, Calif., because he’s won this tournament twice (when it was called the Fortinet Championship), he’s from state and went to school an hour away at Cal, but it’s also a good place to make a start on his schedule. He hasn’t played since the Wyndham Championship over a month ago after he missed the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Homa, of course, would love to be a part of this Ryder Cup group that’s tuning up for Bethpage Black in two weeks, but his play hasn’t been up to form. Yet he disagreed that having this extra attention at Silverado Resort this week is motivation for him. He said it’s something else.
“No part of that is motivational; it’s very cool,” Homa said when he met with the media on Wednesday. “I love this event. Had a partnership with Fortinet for a while and the fact that they helped host this event was really great and then that was kind of like a last-minute exit. So to have Procore, what they did last year and then obviously staying on this year, it’s kind of like karma for them. They kind of took a shot at it last year and now all of a sudden they have 10 of the best Americans in the world, best players in the world.
“Some of these events in the fall, which is understandable, the fields are deep but like not top heavy, but they’re really great events. Like the Sanderson Farms event I’ve loved. This obviously is way up on my list. But they don’t necessarily get like the Scottie Schefflers of the world. So I think it’s really cool.”
Homa’s press conference followed ones by U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who is not playing this week, and Ryder Cup players Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa.
Homa would be forgiven for feeling like the odd-man out.
It wasn’t that long ago, in Rome, at the 2023 Ryder Cup, when his 3.5 points led the team — the next highest point total was 2 — and he won his singles match 1 up over Matt Fitzpatrick. He also played in the Presidents Cup in 2022 and 2024, where he’s also been stellar, finishing 5-2 overall.
You could argue no American has been better in team events over the last three years.
“I think anytime you wear the red, white and blue, just the honor of it is as high as it gets,” Homa said. “Also, I think in a grander scheme it’s really a massive accomplishment, so I think you just can take pride in it. It’s like winning a golf tournament, qualifying for that team or winning a lot maybe in your mind. If you’ve ever played on [a Ryder Cup team], it’s the most fun, coolest thing you’ll ever do. To qualify for it is so hard and then such an accomplishment that I think that’s why it means so much to everybody.”
Homa, however, hasn’t won in two years, and when it came time to make Ryder Cup captain’s picks, his name wasn’t in the conversation.
Yet he’s not hanging his head this week or feeling sorry for himself. He joked he had lots of time over the last year — specifically Saturdays and Sundays — to “reflect on how bad it’s been.” Although missing the playoffs had a silver lining, since it allowed him to be at home when he and his wife welcomed their second child last month. He said he started practicing again about three weeks ago and has put more emphasis on his putting. He’s happy with how much better his ball-striking was to end last season and hopes to continue that.
He plans to play all three October events: the Sanderson Farms, the Baycurrent Classic (in Japan) and the Bank of Utah Championship. He hopes to be in the top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings by that time, which would give him an invite to the 2026 Players Championship.
He has goals for 2026. But no, this group of Ryder Cuppers isn’t motivating him. He doesn’t need it.
“Yeah, it’s not motivational, but I find it quite cool for the event and whoever comes out,” Homa said. “It’s always a little sleepier than a typical West Coast tournament but you’re going to get like a front row seat to see one of the best golfers you’ll ever see in your life, so I think that’s awesome.”
