LA Jolla, CA – Two of the PGA Tour's most popular American players must start packing their bags on Friday evening.
Jordan Spieth and Max Homa missed a cut at the Genesis Invitation, the third signature event of the season when the Los Angeles wildfires moved from the Riveria Country Club to the Tory Pines.
For Spieth, it was his first missed cut of the season in his third start. He made his season debut with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, returning to competitive action for the first time since undergoing wrist surgery in August. He came in 69th in Monterrey as 79 in the third round kept him at bay. But then Spieth showed Flashes of Brilliance at WM Phoenix Open last week, tied for the fourth time and filmed four rounds of less than 68 rounds at TPC Scottsdale.
“I didn't think this was a one-off,” Spieth said after a top-five finish at Phoenix.
“It felt like I was heading in the right direction. I'm pretty realistic about it myself. My expectations were low. I'm just trying to improve a little each time.”
Unfortunately for the three major winners, he struggled in brutal circumstances at Tory Pines on Thursday. He opened in 4 over 76. This is a round featuring six bogeys and two birdies, and last week I made two bogeys on 72 holes in Arizona. His second round wasn't that good as he posted a 2 over 74 and finished in six overs.
Meanwhile, Homa was not visible near the players who were at Augusta National last April. After finishing third in the 2024 Masters, HOMA has since announced only one top 10 finish, and did so at the Wells Fargo Championship in May. Homa's best results this season came at Sentry. He then withdrew from the opening of Farmers Insurance, tied up to 53rd place at Pebble Beach and missed a cut at WM Phoenix Open.
“I'm pretty obsessed with the 'trust in the process' type of thinking,” Homa said Tuesday ahead of this week's Genesis Invitational.
“Even if I look worse, I know I'm getting better. I think I know what I'm doing is right. It's very difficult to keep looking bad. But last week I actually hit the ball incredibly and missed the cut with 5 people. [in Phoenix].
“Golf doesn't like me at the moment. I've noticed that.”
Homa continues to hate Homa as he missed a 4-over 76 on Thursday and a 3-over 75 on Friday and a cut for the Torrey Pines. At least he was closer to the cut line than last time this week, but Homa will soon have to rediscover something in the game. Otherwise he will soon lose his major exemption and eligibility.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
