Smylie Kaufman names the player ‘nobody believes in’ who could win the PGA Championship after two rounds at Quail Hollow

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The PGA Championship leaderboard after two rounds at Quail Hollow was missing a lot of big names.

Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Ludvig Aberg all missed the cut, and tournament favorite Rory McIlroy only made it on the number.

Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau are both in a decent position to contend, but it seems likely that there will be a surprise winner this week.

And Smylie Kaufman says one player “nobody believes in” could be the one to lift the PGA Championship trophy.

• READ MORE: Max Homa confirms if he offered Bones the chance to be his next caddie before the PGA Championship

Smylie Kaufman thinks Max Homa can win the PGA Championship

Max Homa’s ongoing struggle with his golf swing has been well documented. He’s not finished in the top 10 once this season.

However, the 34-year-old has shown some promising signs in recent times, including a T12 at The Masters last month.

Now, at the PGA Championship, he’s only three shots off the lead heading into the weekend after a second-round 66 on Friday.

Kaufman complimentarily described him as a “dawg” and said he could win the tournament at Quail Hollow.

“Oh, yes. He’s a dawg. He’s 100 percent a dawg. I have so much respect for a player like Max Homa, who said after the round today, ‘At times I just feel like it’s broken. I need an epiphany for what needs to happen for me to play good golf again.’

“And there’s something to be said about a player that nobody believes in that just continues to believe in himself and put the work in. You’ve got to have respect for that type of player.

“He’s going to show up on the tee, and he has been through some s—. He’s stood on a lot of big moments and he’s come away successful, so he’s got experience of winning.”

Smylie Kaufman poses Ryder Cup question about Max Homa

Kaufman also suggested that an impressive performance at the PGA Championship could work Homa into the United States captain Keegan Bradley’s plans for the Ryder Cup.

He asked: “The question I would pose is, ‘Is that enough, playing really well in the majors and poorly on the PGA Tour, for a player like Max to make Keegan Bradley’s [Ryder Cup] team?”

Ryder Cup 2025 qualification standings

Homa is currently nowhere near the top six in the qualification standings and has almost no chance of getting there without winning a big event.

But some good form in the next few months could throw his hat into the ring for a captain’s pick at Bethpage.