The Stakes in Yokohama
Max Homa stands right on the edge of ending his longest winless run on the PGA Tour since 2023. He sits at 9-under par after Friday’s second round at the Baycurrent Classic in Japan. That score puts him just two shots behind the leaders, Keith Mitchell and Jacob Bridgeman. The American has not won a tournament since the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open. This is the moment fans have been waiting to see if he can close the gap. The field is stacked with talent, yet Homa remains in the thick of the hunt.
Homa carded a 3-under-par 68 on Friday at Yokohama Country Club. He is not the only one fighting for the top spot. Mitchell shot a 6-under 65 to share the lead with Bridgeman, who holds a 68. Just two weeks prior, the Presidents Cup saw 24 competitors, 13 of whom are featured in this tournament. This is the strongest field in the FedEx Cup Fall series. The pressure is high, but Homa seems to have found a way to keep his head above water when things get tough.
A Gritty Round in the Sun
The round was not without its struggles for the 35-year-old golfer. He faced a rough patch that lasted about 40 minutes around the 14th hole. Instead of making things worse by changing his approach, he stuck to his plan. He admitted the difficulty but praised his resilience during the round. “I just liked that I hung in there, I didn’t panic,” said Homa, according to GolfMagic. He noted that he was happy he did not try to reinvent the wheel while playing well.
Homa made a lot of great pars and managed a double putt to save par on a tough hole. He waited until things clicked on his back nine to get rolling. His ability to tough it out when the game feels off is what keeps him in contention. The leaders, Mitchell and Bridgeman, have shown they can handle the course, but Homa is right there with them. Bridgeman made an impressive start with an eight-under-par 63 before settling into a 68. Mitchell opened with a 66 and followed up with that strong 65.
Why Japan Feels Right
There is something about the energy in Japan that seems to help Homa play better. He has spoken openly about his love for the country and the fans. He even spends time researching the local food scene before making the trip. “I love it over here. It’s always on my schedule,” he said. The connection between the player and the location feels genuine. He believes the atmosphere helps him perform at a higher level for some reason. “I love Japan. I think just the energy here just helps me play a little bit better for some reason.”
Defending champion Xander Schauffele is eight strokes back of the lead heading into the weekend. He carded a 68 on Friday. Japan’s top star, Hideki Matsuyama, shot a 1-over 72 and was also eight shots off the lead. The gap between the leaders and the rest of the pack is small enough that anyone can win. Homa has the experience and the form to make a move. Following the 2023 Ryder Cup held in Italy, he has faced form issues. This tournament could be the turning point he needs to get back on track.
The PGA Tour’s FedExCup Fall schedule includes the Baycurrent Classic. The winner will get a massive boost in confidence and a chance to end a long drought. Homa knows he is close. He just needs to keep doing what he did on Friday. He hung in there when things got weird. He trusted his game. Now he has to do it for one more round.
