Report
Max Homa showed nerves of steel to grind out a play-off win over Tony Finau on a long Sunday to clinch the Genesis Invitational at Pacific Palisades.
After strong wind delays on Saturday forced many players to finish their third rounds on Sunday morning, Sam Burns held a two-shot lead after 54 holes despite bogeying his first hole of the day at the 14th.
Burns’ challenge was ultimately ruined by the barest of margins on his final homeward nine, with bogeys at 12, 14 and 15 leaving him to close at 11-under for the tournament, after Homa and Finau edged ahead of him.
Finau took the lead at 12-under with a superb seven-under 64. Homa joined his compatriot with a birdie at the 17th hole, before missing a three-foot birdie putt to win the title at 18, his 66 setting up the play-off.
After both men parred the first play-off hole, Homa set up the win with a sublime approach shot on the second, and with his rival having found the sand, the 30-year-old made birdie to Finau’s par to claim his second title on home soil.
Homa, set to climb into the top 30 of the world rankings following the victory, was delighted to finally meet his idol and tournament host Tiger Woods.
“Been watching this tournament my whole life, just wow,” an emotional Homa said in his post-victory interview on Sky Sports.
“Tiger is the reason why I’m in golf. I saw Tiger the other day but I was scared to talk to him, now he is forced to talk to me.
“I have a game that fits difficult golf courses. I think this is the best golf course in the world. I hope this is just the beginning.”
Burns had world number one Dustin Johnson, England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and Homa breathing down his neck at seven under at the start of the final round.
Four birdies on his front nine of the final round lifted Burns to 13 under at the turn, before his late fade out.
Fitzpatrick started his day on seven under with victory in range, but was ultimately left to rue an inconsistent front nine of three early birdies offset by three bogeys.
He then posted an even back nine to close out his tournament tied for fifth.
