Max Homa hailed for making brilliant move on the PGA Tour after failing to qualify for The Open

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Max Homa was among the high-profile names to have missed out on The Open this week, with the American having failed to qualify.

Homa is currently ranked 102nd in the FedExCup standings and 105th in the Official World Golf Rankings, and thus missed out on a spot at Royal Portrush.

He’s won six times on the PGA Tour in his impressive career so far, but his most recent arrived at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open.

The American did, however, come close to ending that drought earlier this month with his T5 finish at the John Deere Classic.

Homa was disappointed with his near miss, but he can still take plenty of positives from his week at TPC Deere Run.

Max Homa praised for PGA Tour move after failing to qualify for The Open

And while many of the biggest names in golf were at Royal Portrush this past week for The Open, Homa decided to chase further success.

He was in the field for the Barracuda Championship, and entered the final round sitting T16 in the leaderboard before dropping to T45.

READ MORE: The reason why Max Homa failed to win the John Deere Classic is already clear following his final round

But his decision to simply play at the tournament in Tahoe Mountain Club drew praise from veteran caddie Kip Henley.

He wrote on X: “Max Homa swallowing his pride and playing the Barracuda is one of my favorite moves of the 25 season. Impossible to coach this kid a better way to handle his career.”

How has Max Homa performed at the Barracuda Championship?

Homa would undoubtedly have been eager to test himself against the very best of what the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have to offer at The Open.

But it wasn’t meant to be, although the 34-year-old does deserve praise for wasting no time in continuing to try to get back to his very best.

READ MORE: Dan Rapaport gives his verdict on Grant Horvat’s decision to reject invite to play on the PGA Tour

It’s been a very frustrating PGA Tour season so far for Homa, who has missed seven cuts from his 18 appearances.

That includes a miserable run of five in a row, while he was also forced to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open.

Homa could make the US Ryder Cup team for Bethpage Black, but he really needs to catch the eye of captain Keegan Bradley.

He is currently 38th in the qualification standings and is in real danger of missing out on representing the team once more, having qualified automatically for the 2023 event.

Dustin Johnson told he is the ‘biggest underachiever’ in golfing history

While Homa has caught the eye of caddie Henley at the event in California, Dustin Johnson has also been in his focus.

He wrote of the two-time major champion on X: “As amazing as his career has been, is he the biggest underachiever in the history of the game.

“I would argue he’s the greatest athlete to ever lace ’em up. People argue [John] Daly and that’s fair but I say him.”

Johnson is currently plying his trade on LIV Golf, but was among the star-studded field at The Open this week.

And he impressed at Royal Portrush, finishing T23 on six-under with the likes of US Open champion J.J. Spaun after rounds of 73, 69, 67 and 69.