PGA Tour 2021/2022 Season Opener Fortinet Championship Final Day 7-Under Storm Shots, McNealy Finishes 2nd
Max Homa cheers after making a birdie on the 17th hole on the final day of the Fortinet Championship. Napa, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz
[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "I am the early bird."
Max Homa's come-from-behind victory. On the 20th (Korean time) at Silverado Golf Course in Napa, California, USA (par 72, 7,123 yards), the final day of the Fortinet Championship, the opening event of the 2021/2022 PGA Tour season with a total prize of $7 million, Homa surged with a 7-under-par round to secure a one-stroke victory (19-under-par 269). This marks his first win of the new season and his third career victory, seven months after the Genesis Invitational in February. The winner's prize money was $1.26 million (approximately 1.49 billion KRW).
Homa is an elite player who won the individual NCAA championship and the Walker Cup representing the USA in 2013. However, on the PGA Tour, he faced hardships, missing the cut 15 times in 17 events in 2017, which led to him dropping down to the Korn Ferry Tour (the second-tier tour) in 2018. In 2019, he missed the cut 8 times in 15 tournaments, so it was rather surprising that he secured his first win at the Wells Fargo Championship in May. This year, his playoff victory at the Genesis Invitational brought him even more spotlight.
Starting the day tied for third place, two strokes behind, Homa recorded one eagle, six birdies, and one bogey. The highlight was his "shot eagle" on the 12th hole (par 4), where he holed a 95-yard wedge shot. He showed strong finishing power with consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. Maverick McNealy (USA) chased him but stopped at second place (18-under-par 270). McNealy suffered a critical double bogey after struggling in the rough on the 17th hole (par 4). He found consolation with an eagle on the final 18th hole (par 5).
Kim Si-woo is teeing off on the 1st hole on the final day of the Fortinet Championship. Napa, USA = Getty Images / Multibits
Mito Pereira (Chile) finished third (16-under-par 272), Mark Leishman (Australia) and Taylor Gooch (USA) tied for fourth (15-under-par 273), and Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) settled for a tie for sixth (13-under-par 275). Among the Korean contingent, Kim Si-woo (26) added 2-under-par to finish tied for 11th (12-under-par 276). Kang Sung-hoon (34, both from CJ Logistics) remained at even par and finished tied for 47th (5-under-par 283).
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