Two-time Procore Championship winner Max Homa returns to Napa/Silverado for his 10th start at this event—and lays out exactly how he plans to reset his season. He breaks down the course (“tight fairways, pure greens,” a little softer after rain but can get “spicy” with sun/wind), why California feels like home, and what’s changed in his prep (extra putting work the last two weeks, more tournament reps than range time).
Homa also opens up on: becoming a new dad (again), targeting the Top-100 to lock in THE PLAYERS, how this fall stretch (Mississippi/Japan/Utah) fits his plan, and why seeing 10 Ryder Cup team members in Napa is “cool for the event”—but not his motivation. Plus, his first-tee advice to rookies: “You only get that first time once—take it all in.”
Highlights
Course intel: firm(ish), narrow, rewards accuracy; greens rolling true
Why Napa/California gives Homa a comfort edge
Fall goals: Top-100, THE PLAYERS qualification, and a win
What’s different in his prep (more putting focus)
Honest look at 2025 struggles—and the reset plan
Ryder Cup perspective & advice for first-timers
Good. All right. We’d like to welcome twotime Procore Championship winner Max Homer into the uh interview room here. Max, thanks for joining us. Um went out and played some holes in the ProAm. Um how was that experience for you today? What’s the course look like to you? Yeah, course is uh it’s usually really firm. It’s not quite as firm, but uh same thing. Always hard to hit fairways here. It’s in really good shape. The greens are pretty perfect. So, um, yeah, it’s kind of a typical week here. As a it gets a little sunnier and the wind blows, I think it could get kind of spicy, but I think it’ll be kind of similar to the last handful of years. So, got that little bit of rain yesterday, probably softened it a little, but it’s still it’s still in good shape. You’re about to make your 10th start here at this tournament. Obviously, you love it because you’ve won twice, not only that, but what what’s special about this event for you? I just think the area um anything in California for me uh feels so nice. Uh got a lot of family support up here and friends. Had three of my closest buddies out here there today. Um so I don’t know. I’m just lucky and the around the west coast a bunch of my friends and family travel. Uh so it just always feels special and something about like the grass and the air or whatever just kind of feels like like home. So, uh, typically had, you know, success in this state and, um, we weren’t lucky enough to come up here in college or anything, but, uh, you know, the first time you come to Napa Valley, it’s pretty, uh, special place. So, uh, I think everybody who comes to this event knows how kind of fortunate we are to be here and and then not only, uh, all everything else around the golf course, but getting to actually play the tournament’s always been a fun one. All right, if you have any questions, just raise your hand and we’ll get you a microphone. We’ll start over here with Brody. Max, just first I guess kind of what is the the last month have you been up to and whatnot and kind of how much do you plan on playing this fall as you kind of try to get back into form next year? Yeah. Uh last month and a half’s been pretty hectic. We had a kid a month and like five days ago, month and six days ago. Uh so just been going toe-to-toe with my almost three-year-old. So we had that for a while. Um yeah, you know, kind of started practicing I want to say like two and a half, three week, three weeks ago probably. So I took like two and a half weeks off. Uh for as for the fall, I’m not really sure. Um probably plan on playing Mississippi, Japan, and Utah. Hopefully have would have locked up the top hunter by then. Uh I’d like to take some time after that to rest and practice, but if not, uh you know, I’ll uh kind of look at the schedule. But as for now, that that’s kind of my plan. Anyone else? Max, I just wanted to follow top 100 thing. You’re not That’s not a concern for you though. I believe you’re exempt anyway. Yeah, I wouldn’t be in the players, so I’d love to get into the players. I mean, I could qualify for that next year, too. Uh, also, I just think it’s I remember like Pat Perez, I think it was, just like never lost his card out here or something for like so many years. So, I’d like to earn my way in the top 100, but yeah, I mean, I don’t need it for a whole lot, but um you know, still have the fall to play in practice. So, I got a goal. There’s not a whole lot else to reach for at this point. So, uh winning or or top hunter would be, you know, that’s kind of the goal for the fall. It sounds like you haven’t had a whole lot of time with family and everything, but is there any reflection in there at all? I mean, you’ve talked to us many times this year about your struggles was it were you able to get away from it at all? Does that help? Uh yeah, you get away from it and then um kids kids help a lot just because you uh pretty always more present with them than when you’re just sitting in a hotel room. But I mean it’s you know it’s also like not fun being home that long when everyone of your friends is uh competing. So like that’s I don’t think you can ever get like that far away from it. And I don’t know, it’s just like unique. you go home and you know people ask you why you’re not playing that week and I mean it’s kind of a ridiculous question but uh yes it’s kind of hard to get away from so yeah reflection has been I’ve had quite a bit of time this season uh most Saturdays and Sundays to reflect on how bad it’s been so uh hopefully turn it around soon and uh not need to reflect so much and just uh keep moving forward Nick go ahead Max tend to the right couple out there this week is that motivational at all. Uh, no part of that is motivational. It’s very cool. I love this event. Uh, I had a partnership with Fortnite for a while and the fact that they had, you know, helped host this event was really great. Uh, 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, uh, it’s, uh, you know, it’s like kind of like karma for them. uh 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, the best player in the world. So, you know, some of these events in the fall, which is understandable, the the fields are deep, but like not topheavy, but they’re really great events. Like the Sanderson Farms event I’ve loved. This obviously is way up on my list. Um but they don’t necessarily get like the Scotty Shufflers of the world. So, I think it’s really cool. I know the first year I won here, I played with Rahm when he was number one in the world. I thought that was neat. Uh I think it was right before the Ryder Cup. So, uh yeah, it’s not motivational, but I just I find it quite cool for the event. Uh and whoever comes out. I mean, it’s going to be a sleepy It’s always a little sleepier than, you know, a typical West Coast tournament, but you’re going to get like a front row seat to see, you know, one of the best golfers you ever see in your life. So, uh I think that’s that’s awesome. Just a a simple question. Why is the render gun important to a player? I think anytime you wear the red, white, and blue, it’s just the honor of it is as high as it gets. But then also, I just think in a grander scheme, it’s just a really 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. So, um if you ever played on one, it’s the most fun, coolest thing you’ll ever do. So, uh, to qualify for it is so hard and and then such an accomplishment that I think that’s why it means so much to everybody. Go to Stephanie on the side and come to Jack. How significant has this event been in the past for you to kicking off fall success and then like leading into the next season? Yeah, it’s been good. But I mean just I won it when it was like the wraparound season. So it was just an immediate jump off point. Uh I think it was kind of pre-realizing how important at that time like the fall was. It was just a bigger chunk of the season. I think a lot of people understood. I didn’t either, but it just was like a nice those were my two two of my better seasons. So, it’s like just a great it just you know got you ahead early. Um I don’t think it has like a ton of bearing when it comes like 26. I mean it’s such a long time to go till then. Um but you know you’re never anytime you have a good week especially when I mean it just helps propel things. Jack go ahead. That question is kind of a good segue to to mine. I think four years ago when you got that first win here, life looked a lot different than it does now. I think no kids even course was different, all schedule wasn’t a thing. Does coming back here even after life changes, golf changes. Does it kind of center you a little bit and and give you, you know, comfort going into the week? Yeah, I think that’s a a good point. Yeah, it’s like a probably not like a staple for everybody, but it’s been a staple for me. Um, so yeah, I mean this was also I mean this used to be down in Gilroy. It was my first ever tour start. So this has just been like a this event I guess and time of year has been a big part of just my professional golf career. So I think that’s a good point. It is um yeah, just like the the es and flows of golf. Uh you know, there’s a lot of them, but like this event for me has just been a part of each year. So, it’s always nice. Like I said, anytime I play in California, too, I just I’m spoiled with people. So, uh that makes things great every time I do it. Go ahead, Mark. Hey, Max. Um just curious your Router Cup experience in 23 first TE first time you’re you’re staring at a ball to hit. What your advice is to the four guys on this current team. What that’s what that’s going to be like? How do you prepare for that? And what was your memory of of your first goound? Yeah, the advice would be uh just take it all in. You’re going to be nervous. No reason to shy away from it. Uh and then just trust yourself and go play. You could hit the worst shot ever on that hole and you’re one down. That’s it. headed to. So, um, yeah, whether you hit the best shot ever or the worst, it just turns into a story, so you might as well enjoy it. Look around, you know, laugh a little with your partner, you hear all those great stories these days. Uh, yeah. So, I think, uh, it’s just fun. You’ll look back on it regardless of how it goes and just appreciate it cuz it’s it’s truly unlike anything you’ll do. Uh, maybe first time you play Waste Management on 16, but it’s way different. like it’s got just a little bit of extra oomph to it. It’s your first shot of the day. So, uh yeah, it’s just fun. So, uh you only get that that first time one time. So, uh you might as well soak it in a bit. Doug, this is kind of a silly game question since not for five weeks, but but see the ball hit the ball nicely without results toward the end. Where are you right now? You talked about top 100, but is there any part of you that that allows you to wonder if you can uh if not land do you well enough and somebody’s falling in Utah wherever to um move up in the FedEx next 10 next on whatever. Yeah, I mean that would be great. Um I’m trying to just take it one day at a time. Um where my games are. I mean some days it’s good, some days it’s not. had some really great played played more golf than practiced uh the last you know whatever it’s been four weeks. Um so I have some really good rounds, some not great ones. So obviously it’s so different when you play a golf tournament. So it’ll be nice to see where it’s at uh come tomorrow and Friday and just you know be able to like see what like the work has done or what what I need to do more of or maybe there’s things that are solid that still feel good. But tournament golf’s so different than just playing at home. There’s some things that feel really good. There’s some things that don’t feel great, but sometimes the things that don’t feel great aren’t necessary. Sometimes they are. So, it’s like I think it’s very uncommon for somebody to just feel like everything is firing perfectly. Uh it’s easy to get home and try to make everything perfect or try to make everything perfect. And I think when you play a golf tournament, it’s like the best way to put is like if your fairway bunker play is not great, you can go play a week and hit like one. So, I think it’s it’s easy to nitpick at home. It’ll be I’ll be curious to see how it feels. Uh, you know, put a little more attention to my putting the last two weeks. I don’t don’t feel like I gave that enough uh emphasis last season, so or this past uh whatever year, calendar year. So, um it’ll be nice to see how that feels. Um but yeah, as far as swing stuff goes, I mean, it’s just continues to like I I hit it a lot better the last two months of the season. I just was so far behind the eightball. didn’t put it well enough to I had to basically, you know, make way too many birdies and didn’t do that. So, you were making progress. Yeah, it was pretty easy to make progress from where I started. Um, yeah, I moved from like a 10 handicap to a five. So, yeah, Golf Digest would be proud. Um, but yeah, no, it’s like I I don’t know. It doesn’t feel like bad. Uh, I I feel like in February, March last year, it felt like really bad. Um, it doesn’t feel bad, but I I mean I still throw up a stinker here and there. So, we’ll see what the fall and then 26 has to what that looks like for me. Share curiosity. Have you had a chance to connect or meet a new CEO? Yeah. Uh, chatted with him at the Travelers, chatted with him at the Rocket Mortgage, and then um chatted on the phone with him a week or two ago. He seems awesome. So, uh, did he call you? Uh, he called me. I think he called a bunch of people. So, he he’s very proactive. He’s I think the most exciting part is just his one willingness to be with us. I mean, he had a pretty good job. And then uh two, his energy towards it and like what he sees. I always found that uh we’re such a niche sport. So, it’s cool when somebody with the background he’s got and like the biggest sport wants to come here and then has that energy when he does get here. So, I think he’ll do a really good job. I’m excited to see what what he brings and um you know his perspective on entertainment and stuff is I think very unique to uh I mean it’s like the highest level of entertainment is football. So how would you characterize your outlook? Excited, curious, anxious? Yeah, more excited than I mean excited and curious but curious just cuz I’m excited to see what he does. uh not anxious. I could say like just from what I’ve heard about him, talked to him and all these things like you can’t really have a whole lot of better person doing uh coming in to do what he’s about to do. So, um I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but I know it’s will be well thought out and uh executed properly. Did you have his number in your phone? Uh we did like a teams meeting, so it was just you and him. I mean, it was just me and him, but somebody set it up. Yeah, they got people for that, I think, when your roll out. I don’t think he ever pressed send. All right, does everybody have what they need? Thank you. Thanks, Max. Appreciate it.
