Homa’s hometown dream comes true
LOS ANGELES — Winning at Riviera was always a dream for Max Homa since he first attended the PGA Tour event as a toddler. He never could have scripted a finish like Sunday at the Genesis Invitational.
Homa missed a 3-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for the win. On the first playoff hole, he appeared to have no chance when his tee shot settled inches from a tree. He somehow escaped to extend the playoff, and won it on the next hole when Tony Finau failed to save par on the par-3 14th.
Homa grew up 30 miles away in Valencia. He grew up idolizing Tiger Woods, the tournament host who presented him the trophy.
“I’ve been watching this tournament my whole life,” said Homa, choking back emotions before he said, “Wow. I didn’t think it would be like this. … The city of Champions — Dodgers, Lakers, me now. It’s a weird feeling.”
Homa and Finau finished at 12-under 272.
Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 player in golf, shot 72 and tied for eighth.
In other golf news:
• Tiger Woods says he doesn’t know when he will return from a fifth back surgery, and he could not give a definitive answer when asked if he would be at the Masters.
“God, I hope so,” Woods on the CBS broadcast of the Genesis Invitational.
Woods had a microdiscectomy Dec. 23. It was the fifth surgery on his back and the first since a procedure to fuse his lower spine in April 2017.
“I’m feeling fine,” Woods said. “I’m a little bit stiff. I have one more MRI scheduled so that we’ll see if the annulus (fibrosus) is scarred over finally and see if I can start doing more activities. But still in the gym, still doing the mundane stuff that you have to do for rehab, the little things before I can start gravitating towards something a little more.”
NASCAR Bell snags first Cup Series win
Christopher Bell
chased down Joey Logano on the winding Daytona road course for his first career Cup victory and a coveted spot in NASCAR’s playoffs.
Bell won in his second race driving for Joe Gibbs Racing to give the team a pair of surprising victories at Daytona International Speedway. Ty Gibbs, the 18-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, won the Xfinity Series race Saturday night.
Logano finished second and Denny Hamlin was third.
SOCCER Rapinoe, U.S. shut out Brazil
Christen Press scored in the 11th minute, Megan Rapinoe added a late goal and the U.S. women beat Brazil 2-0 in the SheBelieves Cup on Sunday at Orlando, Fla.
The U.S. sits atop the tournament standings with two wins.