SAN DIEGO — It says it right there in the PGA Tour bio of Max Homa: “Favorite city is San Diego.” Now we’re talking. There’s someone near the top of the leaderboard at the hallway point of the Farmers Insurance Open for the locals to wrap their tanned arms around.
No need to build a rooting-interest case for fans zig-zagging the emerald cliffsides at Torrey Pines the next two days. It’s already signed, sealed and delivered — in five words.
“I’m a Southern California boy through and through,” Homa said.
Consider it done. Warm up the pipes to cheer him along. Jam the gallery like people fighting for a checkout-line spot at Costco.
But wait … Homa had more he wanted to say after moving to 6-under and into a six-man knot for fourth Wednesday. He probably felt the need to gush about our seaside scenes, brag about our food, explain how everywhere else is a mere bridesmaid in comparison.
Get the statue and parade grand marshal sash ready. Max Homa, Mr. San Diego.
“I hate the Padres,” said Homa, a Dodgers fan through and through. So if they don’t like that part, they can boo me. I’d rather get booed than be a Padres fan.”
Homa chuckled. He knows the bear-poking he’s doing, the incongruousness of those two statements, the kerosene in which he’s soaking his remaining two days on our golfing front porch showcased on national TV.
Read the room? He’d rather read something light, like the Articles of Confederation, than feign liking one of the biggest chest-puffing things about a city he claims to adore.
Speaking and sometimes losing his mind on social media led a Golfweek story to crown him the “golf Twitter GOAT” this week. Poking fun about a grouchy run-in between world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and LIV Golf lightning rod Patrick Reed at a recent driving-range run in showed his brilliant and biting wit.
McIlroy has been perhaps the most prominent critic of players making a cash-grab and defecting to the Saudi-backed tour. When Reed received a cold shoulder and tossed a tee in his direction this week, it was learned that McIlroy had received a subpoena from the controversial player’s sue-happy attorney about a suit involving others … on Christmas Eve.
Homa, who has more than half a million Twitter followers, giddily pounced after his first round at Torrey on Wednesday. “Had a nice time on the course today. 5 birdies, 1 bogey, no subpoenas. Very successful start to the week!”
He’s flat-out hilarious. And everyone is fair game, including his so-called favorite city.
“Just because I tweet here and there doesn’t mean I can’t hit some good 6-irons,” said Homa, when asked about balancing the lighthearted side of his online personality in a sport where performance has multi-million-dollar implications.
“… When I go to practice or when I go to play a tournament, I would imagine I have a different mind frame than when I’m sitting on my couch thinking of dumb stuff to write.”
Among the classic Twitter tapping from Homa, 32, who also does not spare himself: “Had a few caddies hit me up recently hoping to team up. They heard they usually get weekends off which is apparently a great selling point.”
Many times, the golf ranks as highly as the one-liners.
Homa is a five-time winner on Tour. He’s ranked No. 16 in the world. When he bogeyed No. 2 to bruise the start of Thursday’s second round, he rattled off four consecutive birdies.
“Some (good) fortune, some good shots, some good swings,” Homa said of his round’s impressive pivot.
To test his creativity and mix in some golf analysis, Homa was asked to compare Torrey Pines at his orneriest to a movie villain.
He paused.
“It’s more like kryptonite,” Homa said. “Superman still wins, but it takes a toll.”
Away from the course, he manages not to take himself too seriously. Homa’s Twitter handle simply says, “Sportsperson.” Offering a recent glimpse into whimsical ramblings, the new father shared, “Kids really are like pterodactyls. The only thing silent is the pee.”
So when a chance to lure a city to his side is delivered on a silver surfboard, well, he just cannot help himself. He likes San Diego. He does not like the Padres. It’s a little like vowing a love for pizza, but not crust. Rock music, but not guitars. “Seinfeld,” but not George Costanza.
Some ground is too sacred to cede, Homa reasoned.
“I love that the Padres are spending so much money,” he said. “I’ve had to live with the Dodgers being told that we’re wasting money by having these great seasons. So now they’ve got a ton of pressure on them.
“They haven’t won (a World Series). I’m looking forward to them not winning one this year.”
Another chuckle. Another wry grin.
Maybe that parade can wait.
