The weirdest golf 12 months in current reminiscence delivered maybe the strangest begin to a season in PGA Tour historical past. Max Homa (-16) gained the Fortinet Championship on Sunday over Danny Willett (-15) by a single stroke, however that does not even start to inform the story of what occurred at Silverado Country Club on Sunday afternoon.
The duo performed within the ultimate trio within the ultimate spherical in Napa, the primary of 47 PGA Tour occasions within the 2022-23 season, and each took the tee field on the primary gap one again of their third taking part in companion, Justin Lower, who started the day at 13 underneath. Lower performed respectable golf for the primary 9 holes, however each Homa and Willett caught him, and it turned largely a two-man race on the second 9.
It was a race that Willett appeared as if he was going to win following a heroic birdie on the par-4 14th gap from behind a tree. That moved him to 16 underneath on the week and put him one up on Homa going into the ultimate 4 holes.
Both males parred the following three, which meant Willett’s one-stroke lead nonetheless stood on the 18th tee field. What occurred over the following 20 minutes was astounding.
How it unfolded on No. 18
On the 576-yard closing gap, Willett hit a poor drive out to the best however acquired again in place and on his third shot hit a filthy wedge to 3 ft 7 inches for a birdie that may have put him at 17 underneath and assured a win until Homa made eagle.
Homa was not going to make eagle. He left his 3-wood strategy in need of the inexperienced in a bunker after which did not attain the inexperienced together with his third shot out of the sand. Standing 32 ft from the cup in a low spot across the 18th inexperienced, with Willett’s marker — not even 4 ft away from the cup — staring again at him, Homa knew he would have to gap his birdie chip try. And then he did.
Remember, that did not assure victory and even a playoff, although. Willett had a quick 3-foot, 7-inch putt for birdie to pull forward of Homa and win the match moments after Homa tied him at 16 underneath. He hit the birdie putt virtually 9 ft, which meant he nonetheless had one other 5 ft coming again for par and a playoff with Homa. Incredibly, he missed that one, too.
It was the primary time all week anybody within the area had three-putted from inside 5 ft. Everyone who made the minimize was T1 in three-putt avoidance from 5 ft and nearer. They all completed 100% at avoiding three putts from that distance or nearer. Poor Danny Willett was 73rd at 95%.
‘It was a wild finish’
Willett mentioned after the spherical that he was not stunned by Homa chipping in forward of his three-putt and that he was happy with the way in which he began his new season. A win right here would have been his ninth in 355 profession OWGR occasions however simply his second on the PGA Tour.
“I expected him to do it,, but then it’s still a bit of a shock when it happens,” Willett mentioned. “We all played really good today. Like I said, bit of a shame to kind of finish how I did.”
“Obviously going to remember that last, but good week, nice to be in contention basically all week from Friday,” added Willett. “Yeah, just a shame how I finished but that’s golf, we’re going to do it again another day. yeah, a bit disappointing finish to the round, but you’re trying to hole it. Hit it a little bit too firm.”
 Homa mentioned his head was spinning at what had transpired.
“Last like three minutes are kind of a blur, but I played really good golf, I played solid,” Homa mentioned. “Danny and Justin both played great, but I just tried to play my game and just see where it got me. I don’t know, it was a wild finish.”
Exciting ending offers Homa classic victory
The victory is Homa’s second straight on the Fortinet Championship and his fourth in his final 41 begins worldwide. Incredibly, no person has extra particular person OWGR victories for the reason that begin of 2021. Not Rory McIlroy (4). Not Scottie Scheffler (4). Not Sam Burns, Viktor Hovland or Xander Schauffele (all additionally 4).
It has been true for over a 12 months now, however given his early-career struggles, it stays wild that Homa has turn out to be such a constant winner and such a menace in any respect occasions, however particularly so when he is one of many prime few gamers within the area (which has turn out to be most occasions he performs in). His finish on Sunday was indicative of a participant who has matured into a star on the PGA Tour, but it surely was additionally indicative of an insane sport that seemingly by no means delivers a bland week.
In reality, a sleepy few days in wine nation had all of the makings of one of many extra low-key tournaments of your complete calendar 12 months, and that is the way it went for many of the first 71 holes. Then it out of the blue turned and we acquired a hole-out, an abysmal three-putt and maybe essentially the most surprising ultimate couple of minutes we’ll see on the PGA Tour from now by subsequent 12 months’s Tour Championship.
Rick Gehman and Greg Ducharme recap a full weekend of worldwide golf motion. Follow & hear to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.