Max Homa hits course record to lead BMW in bid to fulfil promise to Zach Johnson

Max Homa fired a stunning 8-under 62 course record at Olympia Fields to open up a two-stroke lead at the BMW Championship, the second leg of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Homa, 32, is also bidding to wrap up the final automatic sixth spot in the US Ryder Cup team this week. 

He last week played himself into the sixth and final spot in the team.

 

 

 

 

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Homa let the media into a secret after his second round that he made a promise to captain US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson last year.

That was after he tried to "kiss up to him". 

Homa revealed he made a promise to Johnson that he will play his way into the team without having to rely on a pick.

That's because Johnson did not want to have to pick him. 

Homa said: 

If Homa remains in his current position on the leaderboard, he will be boarding a plane to Rome next month.

He will also find himself atop the FedEx Cup standings heading into the Tour Championship at East Lake next week. 

The winner of the FedEx Cup receives a whopping $18m bonus. 

Matches career-low 62

Sets course record at Olympia Fields

Takes solo lead by 2 @BMWChamps



Have a day @MaxHoma23 pic.twitter.com/o9jx93x4eT

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2023

But in terms of the race for the US Ryder Cup team, Homa just needs to ensure he finishes ahead of Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa and Keegan Bradley, who are all tucked in behind him in the standings. 

Either way, Homa will still get a pick anyway, but Homa wants to wrap it up in style. 

Next month will mark Homa's debut in the US Ryder Cup team. 

He did play in the victorious 2022 US Presidents Cup team though. 

Lacey was getting impatient waiting on @MaxHoma23 to finish media pic.twitter.com/S6gmFc2rfT

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2023

Homa currently finds himself at 10-under par for the BMW Championship following a course-record 62 that puts him two strokes clear of Chris Kirk, who went round in 66. 

The round of 62 matches Homa's career-low on the PGA Tour.

England's Matt Fitzpatrick (67) moved into a tie for third with Open champion Brian Harman (68).

Rory McIlroy had a lacklustre round of level-par 70 and he remains at 5-under par in a tie for fifth alongside Rickie Fowler (69), Harris English (67), Justin Rose (65) and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler (69). 

Patrick Cantlay is bidding for a threepeat in the BMW Championship, albeit on different golf courses, and he looks on from tied 10th on 4-under par after a 68. 

Schauffele (65) and Sungjae Im (68) are also on that mark. 

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