Homa gets a grip, snags Fortinet title

Max Homa poses with his trophy on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course after winning the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa poses with his trophy on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course after winning the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

NAPA, Calif. -- Max Homa's decision to give up his poplar and often comical golf podcast to concentrate on his game is already paying off.

Homa holed out from the rough from 95 yards for eagle on the par-4 12th to start a back-nine comeback and added three birdies for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke victory Sunday in the season-opening Fortinet Championship.

"I had full control today," said Homa, who saved par out of the sand three times. "I had a really good warm-up, hit my wedges really well. The only bogey I made was going kind of right at it so just felt like I had good control. It just feels really nice."

Three strokes behind Maverick McNealy with seven holes left, Homa followed the eagle with a birdie on the par-4 13th. The 30-year-old former University of California player tapped in for another birdie on the par-5 16th and ran in an 18-footer on the par-4 17th. He parred the par-5 18th to finish at 19-under 269.

Homa won for the second time this year and the third time on the PGA Tour. He won at Riviera in Los Angeles in February.

His latest victory came a week after Homa ended the "Get A Grip" podcast he co-hosted for nearly two years.

"I loved doing it ... but at some point it was not doing my any favors having to regurgitate all the bad things that happened. It wasn't healthy for me," Homa said. "My game is getting to the point where it could be really good."

McNealy shot a 68 to finish second. He birdied the 16th, then made a double bogey on 17 and an eagle on 18. The son of billionaire and former Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy, the 25-year-old player grew up in Palo Alto and starred at Stanford.

"I was pretty good in the morning, but had a few short game mishaps late in the day," McNealy said. "If I hit that fairway on 17, I'm putting for birdie, it's a different story."

Mito Pereira (68) was third at 16 under. Marc Leishman (65) and Talor Gooch (68) followed at 15 under. Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (66) tied for sixth at 13 under. PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson (75) was 7 under.

Jim Knous (74) began the day tied for the lead with McNealy, but could never find his rhythm and finished at 12 under. Knous, who has one more start on a medical exemption, landed his opening tee shot into a spectator's chair and had a triple bogey on No. 14.

Former University of Arkansas golfer Austin Cook (Jonesboro) tied for 11th. Cook shot a 69 on Sunday and finished at 12-under 276.

Playing in the twosome just in front of McNealy, Homa birdied three of the last four holes on the front nine, then dropped a stroke on No. 10.

He got back on track and turned his round around two holes later when his approach on 12 landed on the front of the green and rolled into the cup as Homa raised his finger in the air.

"You want to have a Tiger (Woods) moment," Homa said. "He's made it from everywhere to win. Sometimes when you put yourself in that state of mind, great things happen."

Max Homa reacts after making a birdie putt on the 17th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. Homa won the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa reacts after making a birdie putt on the 17th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. Homa won the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course after finishing the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. Homa won the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course after finishing the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. Homa won the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa hits the ball up to the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. Homa won the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa hits the ball up to the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. Homa won the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa reads the first green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Max Homa reads the first green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Maverick McNealy waves after making an eagle putt on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. McNealy finished second in the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Maverick McNealy waves after making an eagle putt on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. McNealy finished second in the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Maverick McNealy waits to putt on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. McNealy finished second in the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Maverick McNealy waits to putt on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. McNealy finished second in the tournament. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Maverick McNealy follows his shot from the second tee of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Maverick McNealy follows his shot from the second tee of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Mito Pereira, of Chile, follows his shot from the second tee of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Mito Pereira, of Chile, follows his shot from the second tee of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Phil Mickelson follow his shot out of a bunker up to the second green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Phil Mickelson follow his shot out of a bunker up to the second green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the final round of the Fortinet Championship PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

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