Quick question: who do you think bears the weight of bad form more heavily? Is it the fans or the golfers themselves? The answer is undoubtedly the golfers themselves. Today, we are going to talk about one such golfer: Max Homa. The World No. 70 has been struggling with losses for some time now, with his last win coming at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2023. He followed that victory with three top-10 finishes, including his career-best at the Masters (T3) in 2024. Since then, however, he has not delivered impressive performances.

As a result, the pressure on Max Homa was intense as he battled it out at TPC Sawgrass. Unfortunately, he struggled from the beginning of The PLAYERS, gaining only a little relief over the final four holes. From the 15th to the 18th, he made three pars and a birdie. What happened in the second round? He recorded two bogeys on the back nine, finishing with a score of 71. The outcome? He missed the cut.

What’s going on with him? Discussing his situation, the golfer said he works hard. “I know how much I care. So it just feels more just s****y for myself, like internally. I know people probably love this and some people probably hate it for me, but people like to laugh when people aren’t doing well. I would laugh at that because I just don’t know what more I could be doing at the moment.”

There’s no doubt about that—but what was his last cut? It came back in July at The Open Championship. After that? Nothing. Undoubtedly, both his bad form and the reactions from his fans seem to be affecting him. Despite this, he believes in himself: “I’ve always been quite proud of my work ethic; I think that’s why I’m here.”

Following up on his latest comment, he added that he feels his hard work should have helped him become the best player at some point. “I know that sounds crazy, but that’s how I approach each day: to be the best at it, and I’m going in the complete opposite direction. It’s hard to care this much about something and just not get anything out of it. It’s like you’re in a very toxic relationship. I might be the toxic one, but it’s still toxic.”

After making several changes to his game, the golfer feels confident in his hard work. “If my kid were going through this and working this hard, I would be so proud of him, so I’m proud of myself,” the 34-year-old golfer added. So, how has it been for him?

The weight of bad form sits heavy on Max Homa’s shoulders

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Max Homa has faced bad form. Back in 2021, the golfer sat down to discuss his game and mental health. “I need somebody to say, ‘You can’t,’ and I will be like, ‘Yes, I can.’” Firestarter! However, what if no one asks that? He followed up with, “But if no one says it, I’m like, ‘Can I?’” His belief that he belongs with the best players isn’t new either. In 2021, he acknowledged that he struggles with imposter syndrome, which contributed to his swing issues as he tried to emulate aspects of other players’ swings.

So, how is he trying to get back into the game? Early this year, Homa made an important switch in his golf bag, ending his decade-long relationship with Titleist in favor of Cobra. He also ended his long-term coaching relationship with Mark Blackburn. Eventually, he played without a coach and performed well at the Presidents Cup. What happened after that? Homa realized he needed guidance, and by October of last year, he began working with John Scott Rattan, who came highly recommended by other Tour pros. What strategies do they implement to help his game?

They focused on his swing mechanics, delivering positive results. It helped him draw the ball better than ever; but, we have yet to see that translate to the greens. Keeping up with this progress, Homa says he is just trying to get better. “I’m just trying to use the idea that I’m going to have a long career after this, so just keep getting better.” While we cannot predict when we will see that improvement, we hope the golfer finds his place in the golf world once again. Here’s to wishing him good luck!