HOMA HOLDS IT STEADY FOR WELLS FARGO WIN
POTOMAC, MARYLAND— Max Homa held off fellow American Keegan Bradley down the stretch on Sunday to win the Wells Fargo Championship for his fourth career US Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) title.
The world No. 38, Homa closed out with a two-under par 68 in cold and breezy conditions to finish at 272 for a two-stroke victory over Bradley at rainsoaked TPC Potomac at Avenel in suburban Washington.
“It feels good,” Homa said. “It’s a special day for me. I just feel like life is good and I’m playing some good golf.”
Homa won for the third time in the last 15 months to join Masters champ and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (four), Hideki Matsuyama (two), Sam Burns (two) and Cameron Smith (two) as multiple winners on tour this season.
Homa, 31, had captured prior tour trophies at the 2019 Wells Fargo, Riviera in February 2021 and last September at Napa, California.
“It’s super awesome,” Homa said. “I’m coming into my own and starting to believe in myself and that’s all I can ask for.”
Bradley fades
Third-round leader Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner in his major debut, made a closing bogey to shoot 72 to drop into a share of second at 274 with Cameron Young and England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick.
“I didn’t play my best golf,” Bradley said. “It was choppy and then I had a couple good stretches but I had a chance there at the end, so I’m proud of that aspect of it.”
Four-time major winner and defending champion Rory McIlroy was fifth at 276 after a closing 68, tied with India’s Anirban Lahiri, American Lanto Griffin and Germany’s Stephan Jaeger with 277 tallies.
Bradley, ranked 64th, was chasing his first title in four years but couldn’t match Homa as both endured roller-coaster back nines.
Homa sank a birdie putt from just inside 10 feet on the par-3 ninth, then made a threefoot birdie putt on the par-5 10th to grab the lead alone.