Best of the Bus: Max Homa Explains Whether Or Not Golf Is A Real Sport + The Importance Of Caddies

Summary

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Episode Overview

Title: Max Homa Explains Whether Or Not Golf Is A Real Sport + The Importance Of Caddies | Best Of The Bus
Podcast: Bussin' With The Boys
Date: April 11, 2026
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Max Homa (PGA Tour Pro)

This episode features PGA Tour superstar Max Homa discussing his life as a new dad, the unique culture of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, battles on tour, the evolving image of golf, the crucial role of caddies, and whether he considers golf a “real sport.” Max brings his signature humor, humility, and realness throughout, making for an accessible and entertaining listen for golf fans and newbies alike.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Parenting, Travel & Early Family Life (02:01–08:56)

• Max and Ryan trade war stories as new dads:
  • The exhaustion of the first months, lack of sleep, and the surprising challenge of parenting vs. expectations.
  • “[People say,] It’s the greatest day of your life… I think you guys forgot about how hard... where you don’t sleep at all. Like, not like… if you got an hour, you’re like, oh man, I feel so good.” — Max Homa (02:52)
• Homa describes the logistics and stress of traveling with a young child for tournaments, and the surreal experience of suddenly being able to afford charter flights.
• On flying with noisy kids:
  • Max’s refreshingly empathetic take for stressed-out parents and annoyed passengers:
    • “I’ve been on as many planes as anybody really has. At some point I got over it. It’s like, they make noise-canceling headphones now.” (07:23)
• Entertaining banter about public transportation and the realities of travel in California vs. other states.

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Life and Culture in Arizona (09:29–11:59)

• Max talks about moving to Arcadia, Arizona, and how it’s different from both Los Angeles and traditional “cactus country.”
• Lighthearted discussions about “jumping cholla” (a dangerous, prickly cactus) and local culture.

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Golf Tournaments: Waste Management Open vs. Augusta (12:16–16:39)

• Defining what makes the Waste Management Phoenix Open an outlier:
  • “All the golfers call it a party that a golf tournament broke out at... Like, if we were here drinking, then all of a sudden you’re like, you want to go mess around on that putting green.” — Max Homa (13:24)
  • Attendance: roughly 250,000 people on a Saturday—ten times bigger than most tour events.
• Memorable tournament story: Max recounts his surprisingly dehumanizing/funny “standing ovation” after using a porta-potty near a crowd of thousands (17:06).
• Waste Management’s rowdy crowds:
  • Beer showers after hole-in-ones; rules gradually tightening for safety, but Max is largely positive—“It’s chaos. It’s crazy. It’s like, we—golf is such, like, an older person’s sport, so making it younger... is good for golf.” (16:07)

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FOMO, Party Life, and Competing at the WMPO (18:17–20:15)

• Max opens up about “FOMO” (fear of missing out) during “the party week” of the year, with friends and athletes in town:
  • “All the parties are this week, and it’s so much fun, and everyone’s out… while I’m just wrestling between making bogeys, birdies, and pars.” (19:24)
• Still, there is a rush to performing in front of the largest crowds, making the sacrifices worth it.

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Rules, Rivalries & Changing Golf’s Image (21:08–26:23)

• Hilarious suggestions for rule changes:
  • “Big Cat [Pardon My Take] said you should be allowed to fight one fan a year...”
  • “The real one I would do is like range finders, the lasers you shoot the pin… it’ll speed things up.” (21:51)
• Max admits to unspoken “internal rivalries”—most notably with “future superstar” Tom Kim:
  • “The sad part is he’s 20 and I’m 32... I’m just jealous that it took me so long to figure it out.” (28:33)

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The Importance and Role of Caddies (30:05–34:19)

• Max walks through what caddies do, and how his own caddy, one of his lifelong friends, elevates his game:
  • Carries the bag, cleans clubs, picks strategy, but also acts as psychologist, motivator, and companion.
  • “We’re together more than I’m with my wife, really, over the last six years.” (30:25)
• Max shares a story about his caddy calling him out for moping—emphasizes the importance of candor and friendship (33:08).

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Is Golf a Real Sport? Max’s Take (34:30–35:53)

• Max gives a self-aware, honest answer:
  • “I’m very middle… It’s active. It does warm my heart when my friends, who are ‘real athletes,’ go play golf and the next day their back hurts.”
  • “If we had to carry our own clubs, I would consider it a sport. But… we’re tiptoeing the line. …We’re in the sport family. We’re distant cousins.” (35:53)

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Max’s Path to Pro Golf, Specialization vs. Multi-Sport Childhood (36:10–40:04)

• Max describes his childhood: loving football, basketball, golf; ultimately choosing golf at age 11 because of his size and a nudge from his dad:
  • “[My dad] goes, I think you should only be doing one. …I looked in the mirror like, well, I’m 5’2”, can’t really jump. Think golf’s the way to do it.” (37:23)
• Encourages youth to try multiple sports before specializing—makes for better people and athletes.

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The Problem of Golf’s Image: Accessibility & Elitism (41:26–47:32)

• Max calls for more welcoming golf courses, affordable options, and adults to “chill out” so kids feel invited:
  • “Let the kids play… get them out there… make it three bucks for a bucket... adults need to clean up their act.” (41:55)
• Addresses elitism, snobbishness, how intimidation keeps kids and adults away:
  • “There is an uppity-ness to it... It should be a kid’s game… everyone sucks at it!” (45:35)
• Credits Tiger Woods with helping to “make golf cool” for a generation.

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The Future of Golf: Social Media, Netflix & Culture (47:32–49:26)

• Netflix’s sports documentaries (e.g., "Drive to Survive" and the new golf series) are making the sport more accessible and interesting to a younger audience.
• Ryan and Taylor compliment Max on bringing humor and relatability to his social media:
  • “I take what I do very serious. I don’t take myself very serious. And I hope that kids and fans grasp that concept.” — Max Homa (48:19)

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Mindset, Maturity, and The Joy of the Grind (49:26–52:02)

• Max on navigating the emotional highs and lows of golf:
  • Early in his career, a bad mood from a bad round would ruin playing partners’ days.
  • Now, strives to focus negativity inward, remain positive—“When you win, you learn a little bit, but when you fail, you learn quite a bit.” (51:32)
• His “ebb and flow” approach to attitude and continual improvement.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the grind of new parenthood:

“So many people, I feel like, the day you have your kid, they’re like, it’s the greatest day of your life... I think you guys forgot about how hard… where you don’t sleep at all. Like, not like… if you got an hour, you’re like, oh man, I feel so good.”
— Max Homa (02:52)

On the Waste Management crowd:

“All the golfers call it a party that a golf tournament broke out at...”
— Max Homa (13:24)

On golf vs. “real” sports:

“If we had to carry our own clubs, I would consider it a sport... But we’re in the sport family. We’re distant cousins.”
— Max Homa (35:53)

On the importance of caddies:

“We’re together more than I’m with my wife, really, over the last six years... I need to like that person because if I start to get resentful of being around somebody that much, it would be hard to do my job.”
— Max Homa (30:25)

On golf’s elitist image:

“Let the kids play… make it three bucks for a bucket... adults need to clean up their act. If a kid’s being loud, don’t reprimand them, just encourage them to enjoy the game.”
— Max Homa (41:55)

On personality and golf image:

“I take what I do very serious. I don’t take myself very serious. And I hope that kids and fans of golf grasp that, because… it’s fun, and we’re playing golf in a field, man.”
— Max Homa (48:19)

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Key Timestamps

• 02:01–08:56 – Parenting and travel stories as new dads
• 13:24, 17:06 – Descriptions of WMPO’s wild atmosphere
• 21:51 – Rule changes Max would make in golf
• 28:33 – Internal tour rivalries (Tom Kim)
• 30:05–34:19 – The nuanced and vital role of caddies
• 34:30–35:53 – Is golf a real sport?
• 41:26–47:32 – Making golf accessible and breaking elitism
• 48:19 – The right personality for golf and social media impact
• 49:53–52:02 – Perspective on golf’s mental grind and learning from losses

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Tone & Final Thoughts

Max Homa’s candor and humor lighten every section, from stories of new parenthood to dogged competition on the PGA Tour. He’s passionate about making golf more welcoming while remaining self-effacing about its quirks and his own journey. This episode will appeal to both diehard golf fans and anyone curious “what’s the big deal about golf and caddies, anyway?”

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Transcript

[Max Homa]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Max Homa]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

We were talking about Rob Muji, my my high school buddy. He now legend. He's been mentioned on this podcast several times. Incredible guy. You know Rob, he's in the golf world. But we were talking about vasectomies.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So let's, let's, let's get over that real quick. How many kids do you have?

[Max Homa]

You have one kid, I have one. Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

How many more kids do you want?

[Max Homa]

Hey, no more than one more.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Really?

[Max Homa]

Yeah. I'm not, I think, but I think it's a product of like, I grew up in a two kid household and that my wife, she was cool with three because she grew up in a three kid household, but now she's pretty much on two. I could do just one, I think. But I'm also in like the three and a half. I mean, you're in the three and a half month grind right now where it's like, it's just getting a little less hard. So I can see like the light at like, oh, this is really fun. But so many people, I feel like the day you have your kid, they're like, it's the greatest day of your life. Like, everything's just like gravy from here. And it's like, I think you guys forgot about how hard. Yeah, this where you don't sleep like at all. Like, not like, like if you got an hour, you're like, oh man, I feel so good. And it's like you, I think people forget. But now that you get that over that three month hump, I could see having a second one. But right away people are like, oh man. Like, you know, how many are you going to have?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I'm like, one.

[Max Homa]

One. I'm cool. Like, this is impossible.

[Ryan Seacrest]

There's a. You know, Andy Sandberg is a comedian. He was on a, like a late talk show one time and he was talking about having a kid. And as like your, your wife is pregnant. Everyone's like, it's a blessing. It's going to be the greatest day of your life. And then once the kid's born, everyone's like, welcome to hell. Like they just trick you into like also getting into hell. That dude, that first six months, I mean, Willie's coming up, his daughter's about to be a year.

[Max Homa]

I got a 5 year old already 10 months.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Man, that went super fast.

[Max Homa]

You were like in my boat.

What? How old yours? Three and a half?

Almost four. Yeah, almost four months.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You get to that six month mark. Really? Like the first six months is like keep, just keep it alive.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Like you gotta feed it, poop it. Make sure it's like breathing at all times. And then like once you get to six months, that's when like the personality really starts to show.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You get the smiles when you walk in the door type thing. But I got a five year old and it's like full blown. Like, it's my little buddy. We're ripping.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We have conversations. She's into Pokemon. Like, it's like a nice little. It's a cool deal.

[Max Homa]

Yeah. Because like. Like interest. Like having similar interests.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

We do have the pooping thing aligned. I do like to poop.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, you are.

[Max Homa]

Wipes me. But I'm saying he also likes it. So, like, though that's our similarity. Like, that's our link right now. But the problem is, like, you know, he has someone wipe his own ass for him, and I still have to. I have to do both of those things. So that's where we're kind of misaligned is I feel like he. It's like a. It's like for him, it's just straight up. Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's just.

[Max Homa]

Boy, I do have to work a little bit, you know?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

Yeah. So he hasn't reciprocated, but you got

[Ryan Seacrest]

to get him another. I want to tell you how to live your life. You got to get him a buddy.

[Max Homa]

No, but, like, when you're in the beginning of it, man, that's just like the hardest thing to. To think about because you're just like, man, what? I. I'm already. Yeah, I'm already in it. It's just as hard as I could possibly imagine. Then we travel so much, man, and it's just like we just did our. Our first lights. What was that? Three weeks ago? And every time I, like, we do anything, I'm like, how do people do this with two kids? It's like, I have the. The backpack with the stroller on. You know that you carry it like the satchel and I mean, Lacy. My wife was saying I almost ran into like 100 people. I'm like, well, that's just their problem at this point, because I'm overwhelmed, so I can't imagine too. But obviously you get to that point. I'm sure where it's like that it makes more sense that it seems reasonable at this point in time. I am right now.

It's almost like, you know, you're about to take off. You can get in the bottle, you can kind of like, yeah. Have them on the carrier. But now that rue is like 10 months, like, I'm gonna be honest, she was hell. Like, if we're. If we're coming out of training camp, she's getting cut, like, flying down to Austin and flying over To AZ now flying to AZ wasn't as bad. We got her to sleep down in the seat. But like they're just wanting to move and do everything else.

Like moving.

You're just traveling. It's like a few hour flight.

I, I, I'm glad he's still immobile because I, I was not a football player. I'm not ready to chase something around. I walk, Yeah, I can walk fast, but I, I don't, I don't jog a whole, whole lot of time. So I, I, I'm a little scared for when I, I can't find him and he's just running away, chitting and pissing and screaming. I'm cool with him in one place. I know when he screams now. I know exactly where he is. Yeah, I'm scared for the days where he's gonna be like, like Rom was telling me yesterday, he's like, you know, they have to obviously. Like his kid is a little over a year, I think two years maybe. Yeah, two years. And he, you know, he like, he's like, he's trying to climb out of the crib and I'm just like, that's the scary. I know my kid's gonna be right where I left him at all times. So I can, I'm cool with that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's a grind, dude. It's an absolute grind. Having a kid but thinking I going for you is, I mean, the boy made some bags.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Two weeks ago. That's a nice little deal right there. You keep doing that and no more Southwest.

[Max Homa]

Yeah, yeah, it's a nice little plane.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Just go ahead and hey, you can cry and run around wherever you want.

[Max Homa]

We did do that on the way home from, from San Diego and it was really like, it was really relaxing. I will say though, to all the parents out there who don't fly as often as I do and they feel bad when their kid like screams on a plane. I've been on as many planes as I think, like anybody really has. And at some point I got over it. It's like they make noise canceling headphones now.

Yes, bro.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's all you got to brought that up yesterday.

[Max Homa]

Yeah, it's a kid. Like they're gonna scream. I, I mean maybe when I was like 20, 21 years old, I was like, God, it's annoying. I got the kid behind me, but it's like they got noise canceling headphones. I even thought like if I, if I was just making crazy, crazy money, I'll just buy everybody noise canceling headphones.

Just bring up. Bring them back. Bring a bag on the plane.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, guys, you get a headphone? Yeah.

[Max Homa]

Here you guys go. No complaining now, though. Like, I'm good. You're good.

It seems natural, though. Like, I was like, it would be internally in my head, I'm like, man, man, this kid. Quiet down. But now that you're a parent, you're like, you know the parents going. The parents are thinking about way worse than you are. Because there are parents who are like, man, you want them to quiet down because you know how everybody else might feel because you were once there at one point in time. Not like, actually looking like people who look and give, like, faces. It's like, yo, you.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, dude, if you have the face, you can go, yeah. If it's like an older woman, it's always the older woman that kind of looks like, what do you. What are you doing? Say, ma', am, you're sitting in the middle seat in Southwest. You had to see 33 60. It was gonna be a tough flight for you regardless.

[Max Homa]

Disconnect. I. I do believe this. There's a disconnect because it is more expensive. It's public transportation. It's just a bus in the air. If I was on a bus and someone was screaming, I've been on bus. I lived in Berkeley for four years. I'm on buses where people are taking pisses in the aisle, and it's like, you just didn't even bat an eye. You go on the bart and there's just a homeless dude who lives there. It smells terrible. But you're like, yeah, this public transportation. But for some reason, when you're up in the clouds, people expect everybody, you know, wear, like, a suit and tie and just read. But, like, I like. I kind of like that. It really is.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I want to know why people are pissing in the middle of the aisle at a bus.

[Max Homa]

Yeah. He said he grew up in California. You got homeless people.

Berkeley's got a big homeless population. You see a lot of. And I mean that quite literally.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, like, California is El Dorado for the homeless community. That is.

[Max Homa]

That is a place you really need to get a. Everywhere's the ocean.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. People in Minnesota that are homeless are like, have you heard about this place? We could get there, dude. Yeah. Okay. Someday I'm gonna head west. He's been saying that for three years. He'll never do that.

[Max Homa]

I almost do it in Minnesota last time I was there, and that guy's a brave man. Because it gets cold.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's cold in Minnesota.

[Max Homa]

California I mean, like, if I was, I would just live in San Diego and it would be great. Yeah. I mean, that'd be awesome.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. If you want, you can stumble over to Mexico real quick. Go to tj. Great. Point yourself. A couple of nice shows. Come back. A lot of entertainment down there in Southern California. Lot of entertainment. What do you. You live in San Diego now?

[Max Homa]

No, I'm here. I'm 20 minutes from here. But I. I grew up in. In Los Angeles. But we've been here four years now.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You a Paradise Valley guy?

[Max Homa]

I'm Arcadia. Oh, yeah? Nice.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Arcadia is farther south of Paradise Valley. Money.

[Max Homa]

Paradise Valley.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Paradise. It's like Paradise Valley. Arcadia is like. It's like, the nicest area of Arizona.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I grew up in Cave Creek.

[Max Homa]

Oh, no way. Yeah. So we just moved to Arcadia. We were living up by, like, where TPC is. We were living by, like, Kierland.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

For a while. But Arcadia feels kind of like California.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Like, it does have those kind of vibes.

[Max Homa]

It's weird.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Like, you'll drive down a neighborhood in Arcadia, and it'll be, like, lush.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's cool. It's a cool setup for Arizona. It's different, but. Yeah, it is. It has been funny living down there because, like, there is. I'm not 40, 40 guy, but. But Arcadia, 40, 20 people down there.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

You go.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I just gotta go a little north.

[Max Homa]

But I know Cave Creek.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's a little more salt of the earth there.

[Max Homa]

I. I believe that, but I just can't. My wife and I can't do the. I haven't fallen in love with the cactus yet.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's a beautiful thing.

[Max Homa]

I think that's fair.

Yeah.

I know you take. You guys take a lot of pride in the cacti.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. It's kind of like all we got.

[Max Homa]

All we got here. They can differentiate, but. Yeah. Cacti, which. I'm just like. It's just a cactus. Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

There's lots of different. There's the cho.

[Max Homa]

I think what's interesting is how long this.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Have you heard about the jumping choa?

[Max Homa]

Yeah. Oh, you. Hey. Them up right now.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

Explain them a jump.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The. The.

[Max Homa]

What is this called? Jumping.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Jumping. They're like, basically like the defense mechanism. Defense mechanism of a choa is if you get close to it, it'll literally lean into you and then get you. So it'll get you away from it. And it's one of those things, like, if you, like, touch it, it breaks off real easily. So it'll be, like, all over your hands and Arms and stuff like that. And they're like. They, like, they look like big bushes. And you can just like stacks of. Just prickles everywhere.

[Max Homa]

My buddy put his foot over one once. It was on the ground. He put his foot over it, kind of screwing around, like, oh, I'm gonna step on it. And it.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, but holy.

[Max Homa]

Yeah, like, what's the point of those things?

[Ryan Seacrest]

This. You know what I mean?

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

That's. What kind of value are they adding? I'm sure they do. Like, I'm sure somebody. Somebody's out there pissed off right now. Like, how does Will not know?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, I mean, I think the choice, like, only here. Here in, like, New Mexico. Yeah, like, it's kind of like a. It's a rare thing.

[Max Homa]

It's interesting how long cactuses can live.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. That's a fun thing, too. So we're always, like 200 years old. It's wild. But that's. This is not what this podcast.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

This is not about.

[Max Homa]

We're here to talk about golf.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You are. So you're at the way. You're doing the Waste Management. Obviously you to come out. We're thinking about. We're thinking about Saturday, right?

[Max Homa]

Yeah, we're thinking about Saturday.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. And then. So how does, like, Waste Management to me growing up? What's that?

[Max Homa]

He hit one last year. Got it. You got one last year, didn't you?

I won what hole one? Yeah. No, that was Sam Ryder.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Oh, that's crazy.

[Max Homa]

That's.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's just. That's just us not doing our homework because I legit. I was sitting with Will there, being like, damn, did he really get a hole in one? But that. Like, how does the Waste management. Like, how is it different from things like Augusta and, like, other places? Because it seems like it literally is out of, like, Happy Gilmore.

[Max Homa]

Oh, it's. Yeah, it really is. Shooter McGovern would struggle here. So this I put in context. They don't tell you exactly how many people come through the gates, but I know roughly so on a. On a given. Even a good. Good golf tournament day. Like, I would say Farmers Insurance, two weeks ago, final round, probably had.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's where he made his bags.

[Max Homa]

25, 30,000 people.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

Which feels like a lot at a golf tournament. It's spread out, but it feels like a lot. Saturday at the Waste Management this week, we'll probably have 250,000 people. It's like the top five, six sporting event in a day. And it's all week. I mean, yesterday. Yesterday's Monday is the first day of the courses open to practice or sorry for the fans, but typically, even some of the events don't even open. And, you know, you'll trickle in, like, a few people. I mean, it's a Monday. People have jobs. I mean, yesterday was still chaos. I mean, there's so many people, so it's different. But my story that explains that we call it. All the golfers call it a party that a golf tournament broke out at. So it's like, if we were here drinking, then all of a sudden you're like, you know, you want to go mess around on that putting green. And, like, that's. That's, like, the scale. So my first year ever playing it, I tee off on Thursday off the back 9 and 16s, you know, right? Where, like, everyone filters in through 10. They walk past 10, past 11, and filter into 16. And I'm walking off the tee. I got, you know, all my golf clothes on spikes on, looking like a professional golfer. I got my caddy carrying the clubs looking like a caddy, and there's a huge line of people, and there's these two attractive women in front of me, and I say, excuse me. Then they're in, like, heels and dresses and all this, and. And they, like, look at me and look back around away. I was like. I was like, excuse me. Like, I'm just trying to get through to the fairway. And she gave me, like, the I have a boyfriend look.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Oh, no.

[Max Homa]

And I was like, what the are we doing? Like, I' you're here because there's a golf tournament, but most of people don't even. Like, that's not even part of it. Like, that's not the vibe. I mean, they have clubs. Like, I have my buddy. I don't know if you guys know the. You know, he's just Mike now, but Mike Stud and all those.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We are, yeah.

[Max Homa]

He's one of the boys.

[Ryan Seacrest]

He's been on the pod a few times.

[Max Homa]

They rolled through last year. Him blue and all the boys. And I got them passes, this thing called the Greenskeeper. It's left of 18, and it's like, I've never been. I've never got to, like, see anything. So it's kind of like a day club, like, outdoor day club. And he's like, hey, I'm gonna come out. And I was like, okay, I got you guys these wristbands. And he's like, no, we want to watch you play golf. I said, okay. But I was like, well, let, you know, like, it's really fun, like, every day, but Especially Saturday. Like, don't feel obligated to come watch me play. Like, get in there. So I text him after. I was like, hey, man, sorry. Like, I didn't say hi. Like, there's just a lot of people out there. Whatever. He goes. He's like. I think he texted me two days later because he. He was like, never even left the greenskeeper. Like, it was just too much fun because it's just like beer gardens. Like, people don't even know there's golf going on 16 you there just to boo and get really drunk. And it's. It's different from anything ever because every other golf tournament is the. It's the golf tournament. It's the priority. In this case, like, it. That is the alcohol is the priorities.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. Like, especially that 16th hole. Dude. It's crazy.

[Max Homa]

It's insane.

[Ryan Seacrest]

How do you get. Go ahead, bub.

[Max Homa]

I was just gonna say how you feel about everyone starting to throw all that alcohol onto the. So I. I like the green. Like, how it. It was like, chaos.

It was a little much. So basically they had to change it this year. It was. I'm not gonna go out here and say is like life and death dangerous. But, I mean, people are chucking, you know, hands at you that are full of beer. And like, you know, Colt, my buddy Cole got hit with one last year, and he's like, didn't feel good. I don't mind it. It's. It's crazy. I like this. This is good for golf, I don't think every week, but it's good for golf. But they are putting cups in. In solo cups this year, so if you do chuck them, at least, like, we're not gonna get beaned. But I don't know. I like it. It's fun. It's. It's. It's chaos. It's crazy. It's like, we. Golf is such, like, an older, older person's sport that, like, making it younger and all this and that. Whatever. The only problem with last year, that we got a little of that. They're starting to do it for anything. Like, they crave. It's like you're having a reason. The chaos. And they're like. They're like, man, if he. If he makes this 30 footer, we're gonna throw it, and then they'll miss. And he's like. He taps it in, though, we'll throw it too. It's like, okay. Or, you know, like, make it make, like, for the whole one. Like, go nuts for. For a bunker shot you make. Go Nuts. Long putt. Go nuts. It did feel like last year was kind of like anything we can possibly make happen and make worth it, we're gonna do it. But it's cool, man. It's a. It's rare. I. I have my favorite funniest stories from this event, and last year was up there with the most dehumanizing and also kind of funny thing ever. But I was in a late group on Saturday, I think, and we get to 15. I'm making, like, a little charge, and I don't know why the people who set the tournament up did this, but there's a porta Potty, like, on the tee, and it is really close to a lot of people, and, you know, obviously, they're quite noisy, and I had a healthy stream that day, so I hop in there, and everyone watches me go in there. And I could hear people, like, you know, chanting as I'm, like, in the bathroom, and it's, like, really uncomfortable, and I get out, and I just get like. I mean, they're already standing, but it was still like a standing ovation. Like, a roar happens as I leave this bathroom. I looked at Joe, and I'm like, dude, I don't even feel like a person anymore for a piss. Like, thank God I didn't have to take a. Because, like, that. It just would have been a tough one in there. So you have that. I've had my favorite heckles have been at this one, so it's a great event. It's just. It's very different.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Is it when you're looking at, like, your first couple of times doing the waste management, is there, like, a level of FOMO that you had at any point? Being like, these people are having every year, incredible time every year. I remember, like, I don't know about you, but, like, being on the buses, going to, like, college football and seeing all these. Oh, all these people tailgating. Like, damn, I've never been to a tailgate.

[Max Homa]

I got to do all the tailgating.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

So we roll reverse. It is hard, man. I guess, like, last year, I got. I got all these friends in town, and, like, one night, you know, like, I get invited to go to dinner with, like, Goff, who I'm buddies with, and Yellich and all. Like, just, like, my favorite, like, coolest athlete friends who we keep up with each other, but I never get to see them because they're busy when. When. When I'm not busy and I'm busy when they're busy and they're like, man, we're Going out to Bottle Blonde tonight, you know, I know it's probably hard, but you want to come. And I'm just like, yeah, like, I want to go, but. And then they're like, no, you're not coming. And I'm like, I know, but, like, you just. All the parties are this week, and it's so much fun, and everyone's out and watching people, like, just drink while we're all golfing and just seem like truly having the time of their lives, while I'm just, like, wrestling between making bogeys, birdies, and pars. It's just like. It's just not nearly as fun.

Diapers.

Yeah. Changing diapers.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

Now this week. Super bowl week.

Yeah. Now it's Super Bowl.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It just makes everything so much more.

[Max Homa]

It's just crazier. But I don't know, man. I have FOMO every year at this event. But there have been times, like, my favorite, like. Like last year, Saturday, my last, like, five holes is my, like, one of my favorite things that's happened to me in golf. Just because when you do perform in front of those people, you guys would get this more. We don't get this very often, but it's like, the rush of it is. Well, you know, it's worth not drinking the. The beers. But, yeah, there's still times where I'm like, God dang, it looks pretty. You know, if I get on, like, a little bogey run, I'm like, I could just be out there right now, like, yeah, and I got full access. I got this. This little credential gets me everywhere. I could be doing all the coolest stuff, but I don't know. It's a. It's a good trade off.

Here's a question. How important in the scheme of GA rankings and all that is the waste management? Because what I'm thinking is this. Why not become the golfer that's drinking while you're playing?

[Ryan Seacrest]

John Daly.

[Max Homa]

Not a lot.

Yeah. Oh, hey, John Daly.

[Ryan Seacrest]

He does that. He allegedly smokes cigarettes and drinks. Pays the fine. Yeah. Because you're not allowed to drink.

[Max Homa]

We are not. We're not allowed. Yeah. Maybe that'll be a rule we could knock down just for this tournament. Yeah, just like you need. Like, that's a.

[Ryan Seacrest]

When you go to Augusta. I've never been, but it's like the hot dogs are still the same price as they were the day they open. They have, like. Yeah, like. Like presidents and, like, senators can, like, golf on this place other than pro golfers. Like, why not make the waste Management like the ultimate like fuck you to golf in a way that like takes as these younger generations and it's like, oh, we want to do this shit. This is awesome.

[Max Homa]

Terrible. Yeah, we could have a one off drink.

You're just getting hammered while you're playing golf.

Yeah, it's like, do you guys watch the Wire?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I've not seen the Wire.

[Max Homa]

It's incredible. Dude.

[Ryan Seacrest]

There's so many shows out there now that are amazing. Like Last of us is now a thing that everyone's watching.

[Max Homa]

Well, the Wire.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, listen.

[Max Homa]

But they have the thing called Hamsterdam where like the. In Baltimore they made like you could do drugs in one square mile. You could do whatever you wanted. There was no rules. And like that's what this event should be. It's like, yeah, the one place where like we'll will turn a blind eye to this.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's perfect. Captioning Max Homa thinks heroin should be allowed.

[Max Homa]

Yeah, no.

No drugs.

Yeah, you brought that up. What's one rule you would change in golf, man?

Big cat. Big cat did say something on part of my take once. I don't know if you guys have heard that one, but where he said that you should be allowed to fight one fan a year in like any sport. And I was like, last year at the PGA in Oklahoma, I was telling Joe, my caddy about that rule because there was this guy that was just wearing me out for like six holes in a row. He's clearly just walking with us. And I was just like, doe. I was like, that's the fucking guy. Like, that's my guy. But I said, we have to be smart about it because I'm not like a super large man. I'd pick a small guy, I just go to town and I think. I think that would be. That would be a good one. Obviously pretty. Pretty unrealistic. Unrealistic rule change, but definitely something to be thought of. I do think that. I do think that like live tours, doing it like shorts. I don't mind. Like you could wear shorts. It makes it seem like at least a little less dorky. Although some people got like very white legs. But I don't know, I. The real one is. I guess the real one I would do is like range finders, the lasers you shoot. The pin distance wise I would use because if everyone has one, I don't see the advantage of it. So it's like, might as well do it. It'll speed things up to an extent. Makes things easier on everybody. That one seems pretty basic, but we'll see.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Is it. So speaking of like fighting guys, is there a golfer that you would, given the opportunity, would maybe throw hands with?

[Max Homa]

I mean, I get. Yeah. I mean is it.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Let's.

[Max Homa]

It could be anybody on your mind right now.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Somebody on the front of your mind. You can say him. You don't have to. Sam, who do you think you could take in the tour?

[Max Homa]

I could take mo. Like, I could take a lot of. I was, I was, I'm blessed. My dad was a boxer growing up, so he taught me how to box. So I'm a very unassuming. Like I know I could at least. I'm also not scared to get my ass beat. Like that's, I think that's some point. Yeah, like, like, like we fought. Obviously you guys are all gonna kick my ass. Like I'm cool with that but like I'd rather do that than like run. So I'm gonna at least stand in there and take a few. But yeah, I mean I think there's a lot of guys on tour I would, I would, I would like my chance against. But it's not like I dislike that many people or really anybody enough to just be like, I'm just gonna bite them. But I mean there's times when you're pissed off and kind of just any. When you make like four bogeys in a row, it's kind of just Anybody.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, anybody.

[Max Homa]

I'm ready right now. Yeah. That always had this joke. I wore a. Or this ugly ass pink shirt when I was a junior golfer and this guy. We were leaving the course. I played so bad. I'm so mad, steaming in the front seat. I'm probably like 15, 16. And this guy cuts off my dad. He's usually like a little more of the hothead than me. And I start yelling at the car, the guy in front, my dad goes, My dad goes if you want to get out, you can get out. And, and, and he was like, could you imagine like on the news, like, like golfer in pink shirt just beats the hell out of some road raged driver. And I was like, yeah, it's probably wasn't going to go that way. I probably, you know, end up flat on my back. But we have no. I've always been scared of a golfer actually fighting another golfer because like we just had a tee throwing incident a year, a week ago in Dubai between, yeah. Rory McElroy and Patrick Reed. Patrick Reed like flicked a T towards Rory and it was a humongous story, which is pretty sad. And I'm really nervous that if we ever anybody did get in a real altercation, we just never make things look cool, and we can't make fighting look cool. Like, there's just no way some two golfers are actually going to have, like, a real fist fight that you're like, oh, wow. You know, it's going to be like, oh, boy. You know, oh, that was a bad look for all of us. So I hope viewers.

The. You know, it will bring viewers would

cringe and, like, kind of be like, okay, you know, I didn't need to see that. So I feel like it's good that most of us are. Are smart enough not to ever really even get into a hold me back situation. We avoid it at all costs.

Is there an internal rivalry that you have that your opponent doesn't even know he's a part of?

Multiple, but not in a I don't like them way. Just like, you know, I want to beat him way.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Who,

[Max Homa]

man? Tom Kim. And he has the same thing. I know he does because his caddy is one of my best friends. I know he has the same thing, but we played sing Presence C. The sad part is he's 20 and I'm 32.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hold on. Hold on one second. Yes, sir.

[Max Homa]

I don't.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well.

[Max Homa]

Oh, so are you going to abide by the. What you're being told?

Hey, Dave. Good to meet you.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We're do.

[Max Homa]

We're in line, brother.

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, we're just trying to do our part.

[Max Homa]

We're doing, you know why we're doing,

and we got people coming up. Be like, you can't talk. The.

You know why we're doing this down here?

Because we're.

We're doing the rundown right yesterday.

Because you asked to do it.

That's all right. All I'm saying is we're trying to. We're trying to do this thing.

Can we talk up there or no?

You're allowed to talk?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I think so. I mean, yeah. Like, maybe like.

[Max Homa]

This your house?

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I don't know.

[Max Homa]

That's why I said that I came in. Like, the busing guy says, no one can talk up there.

So what you said, what was your reaction down here?

And asked permission to talk.

Okay.

All right.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Thanks.

[Max Homa]

I hope your shows go well up there, Dave.

Thank you.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You never know what you're gonna get with him.

[Max Homa]

You know, when he made the comment, I was thinking about it too, and he was like, when you're 53, 54th guy on the roster, you're gonna be early to the meeting. When you're the owner, you can show up whenever you want to, but it's like, yeah, if you want to. Want to run a piss poor organization.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Lead from the front, he says, hand up. Lead from the front.

[Max Homa]

Like that's culture.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Like we know there's a hard out here at 10:15 and he wants to come take three minutes of our time. That's Dave, though.

[Max Homa]

I'll tell you what, though, Dave with

[Ryan Seacrest]

the boys, he does with them, like that's. He's the dad. He's the dad that's never gonna say I love you, but like, the more he makes fun of you, like he cares. Yeah, yeah, he cares and that's, that's important. I feel like during this.

[Max Homa]

What'd you ask?

Does he love you, you think?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Oh, yeah.

[Max Homa]

Love us?

Yes, I think so.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I mean, I think we're probably, yeah. Top five favorite people.

[Max Homa]

I don't think he'll ever say it. And I think he'll always like, you know, make those faces.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Like, yeah, he'll just go, yeah. I mean, I, I like you guys. You guys are fine. Usually. I mean, you guys are doing a great job. You guys work for me. And he'll just say something that like, wouldn't make him seem like he's the boss. And then we just.

[Max Homa]

That one pat on the back, you're

like, oh, yeah, yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

But he doesn't. I think he's not a whole lot of pats.

[Max Homa]

I think he hangs with Silvana and they'll like, look at some of our content stuff and they kind of chuckled again.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, he'll be laying in bed and just kind of like.

[Max Homa]

But he'll never.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Did you see this?

[Max Homa]

Yeah, he'll never say that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Like, those guys are stupid. And he'll just kind of keep scrolling.

[Max Homa]

I'm Kim.

Yeah, so yeah, he's 20, I'm 32. He's a future. Or he already is superstar, but he's a future just like world beater talent. And I think part of it is that I'm just jealous that it took me so long to figure it out. And he's, you know, can't even legally drink and, and he's just whooping up on all of us.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's probably part of it.

[Max Homa]

A lot of it is this caddy and I, you know, I have to see him all the time, so I want to, I don't know, it's like, it's like a motivating thing. So I definitely, you know, check in how he's doing in tournaments and I hope that I win more tournaments than he does. Until I retire much earlier than he will. But it's also an embarrassing one. Like I said, you want a rival that's like your age. And this kid is like, he's truly a child. So what I was doing at 20 versus what he was doing at 20 is just so drastically different. It's outrageous. But he's. He's definitely high on my list right now. And he's also taking me to dinner next week. He's taking me to Korean barbecue next week in la. So I'm all. We're also really good friends. I think it's close.

Enemies closer.

Yeah. So I'm staying it. Yeah. But he might. Food poison. I'm not really sure. I don't know where his rivalry in this stands, but I know. I know he feels similarly.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Is he here this week?

[Max Homa]

He's here this week, yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Anthony, when is it? It starts Thursday, right? That's the first day that everything started going down Sunday. How do you get paired up with him a lot or.

[Max Homa]

No, I've been paired up with him. Maybe this is where the other part. I got paired up with him in Vegas this year, and he won the golf tournament. Didn't make a bogey for all 72 holes, which is just like, not a real thing. Yeah, so he did that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Man, he sounds so stuck.

[Max Homa]

He did so he said, my sights high.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, yeah. Is you. You brought up caddies couple times, like, I don't know golf. I probably swung a club 10 times in my entire life. I'm awful. But what is, like, how important is a caddy through the process of the weekend for you, like, sizing things up for you and stuff like that? What do they do in general? Just like, give me the basic one on one on what a caddy does.

[Max Homa]

Bare bones, is carry the clubs, clean the clubs and get like, numbers and kind of do, like strategy type stuff. Mine is different. I. I've always valued caddies. Some guys, you know, everyone wants something different. Some people wants, like, some. Some people want like a psychologist kind of out there, a friend out there, or they want somebody who's just really good at, like, you know, getting waters, you know, just like a. Almost like an assistant. Mine, I've been lucky. Mine is one of my best friends. I've known him since I was 6. He was a great golfer. It still is a good golfer, but he played pro golfer a little bit back in the day, and so I kind of get. I'm lucky. I get. I get a really, like, really good caddy. He's great at all the strategy, all the picking what club to hit. He's great at all that. He's also, like, someone I enjoy walking around with because we're. We're together more than I'm with, you know, my wife. Really, over the last, like, six years, we spend so much time together. So I need to, like, like that person because if I. If I start to get resentful of being around somebody that much, it would be hard to do my job. But so I. I kind of get, like, the full. The full package with mine. So it's like I said, everyone's different. Like, I had a caddy one time fill in for Joe. He was gone for a week. And. And every time he hand me a water, like, he'd have, like, the top almost off so I didn't have to open the top. I'm like, nice, though. Yeah. But I'm like. I'm so good at that. I can do that. You know, I don't need help with that. I need help. Like, is it seven or eight iron? Yeah, I don't. So it's just like everybody. But clearly at some point, somebody told him, like, that was a thing, which is also sad and crazy to me. But I don't know, some people. Everyone's different, I guess. But I like. I like having a. A friend out there that, like, enjoy the wins together and then the losses we can, like, discuss. And. And I have a lot of faith and trust in what he'll suggest that we should do better.

Have you ever blew a gasket on him?

It's actually funny. He's yelled at me more than I've yelled at him. It's kind of my running. Running joke about how, like, last year. Last year, maybe it's two years ago at Pebble Beach Sunday, I got off to a great start. And on the fifth hole, I hit in a bunker and I had a fuck line. I made double bogey. And then the next hole, I hit in the bunker and got a fuck lie, and I hit a really good shot and got a terrible bounce. I had, like, 20ft. And I, like, kind of bitched and moaned about it. And this is why I, like, joke, because I always tell him, I said, if I'm being a bitch, you tell me I'm being a bitch and I'll stop. Like, he's older than me. Like, I was like, you know, you're kind of big brother here. Yeah, I'll listen to you. Yeah. And. And. But I kind of like, bitched him on to him about, like, I was like, What a fucking bounce, you know, like, so bad. And he snapped on me and. And he goes, you know, I don't even remember what he said, but he yelled at me, looked. I'm like, jesus Christ. Like, in front of other people, I'm a good God.

What do you say? Like, hey, you're starting to be a. Yeah, basically, he.

[Ryan Seacrest]

He.

[Max Homa]

He was like. He's like, quit complaining. You had a great shot. It's like, not that big a deal. Whatever. So I'm like, okay. And I walked over and I. Fortunately, I made the putt, which was like, maybe part him just scaring the life out of me. And he comes over to me, like, this is why our relationship. I love it so much. He comes over me, goes, dude, I'm so sorry, but I want to rake that bunker on why my back went out. And I'm like. I'm kind of on tilt right now. I'm like, okay, man. He goes, I'm really sorry about that, but I've only really been injured.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Max Homa]

I've only really gotten mad at him like, a couple times. So, like, he. I don't think I've ever yelled at him. But yeah, it's. It's fun when he is wrong. And there's been a couple times where, like, he catches. He catches when I could. I know he's wrong. And I go to say something and he's like, got his head down. He's like, sorry, sorry, sorry, my bad. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Because he knows, like, I don't air him out. Everyone's trying their best. It's impossible. I mean, he's guessing what, you know, educated guess on what we should be doing. So when he's wrong, it's not like I'm like, whatever, but every once in a while, like, one time, you know, I'm telling him, it's six iron. It's five. He says five, and I'm saying six, and it's five, and I hit five, and it goes over the green. It's fucked. And like, that's when I can at least. At least look at him, be like, you know, I was right.

Yeah.

And sometimes that's all I need. I don't yell at him.

A little smile.

Like, you hear some guys blow up and they are some funny stories, but, man, I just don't have that in me.

Where are you at in the argument of golf being a sport or not,

man? I'm like, very middle. Like, I don't. It's active. Yeah. It does warm my heart when, like, my friends who Are real athletes like the, the no argument athlete when they go play golf and then they tell me the next day like their back hurts, their shoulders are hurting. I'm like, see, this shit's.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But yeah, it's, it's probably not. I think if we had to carry our own clubs, I would consider it a sport. But it's just, it's just it. Yeah. We're tiptoeing the line. We're definitely like people bat dog cheerleading and say that's not a sport. And they did a way more athletic than we are. So like they're not even if they're not even getting approved then like we shouldn't be approved fully yet. But we're gaining on it. But I, I wouldn't like you guys are like, there's a humongous difference between like football and baseball and basketball and then like golf like this. It's noticeable. Just the eye test would tell you that like we're not doing a whole lot, but it is active. It's harder than you think. But yeah, it's definitely not, not rigging rigorous enough out to consider like a full blown sport. But we're in the sport family. We're distant cousin.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The, the way you handled that.

[Max Homa]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Outrageous question was extremely graceful. Like could have easily taken.

[Max Homa]

I know, I know, I know. Boys, Boys who get fun are back. They're probably pissed right now.

Yeah, I get it, man.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You heard a lot of bunch of scoffs in the back when you said that.

[Max Homa]

Yeah. Because they all were thinking that. It's not.

[Ryan Seacrest]

When did you decide like they're pro? When were you like, this is, this is for me. This is what I'm gonna be. Fantastic.

[Max Homa]

Real sports. So I played, you know, like football, basket, golf. Those were like my three like loves growing up.

Receiver.

What's that?

Are you a slot receiver?

Dude? So I was going to be the Great White Hope. I was a nasty corner.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Oh, there's a boy from Iowa out there trying to live a dream right now. You see that guy out there?

[Max Homa]

I saw that unicorn.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We have to protect him.

[Max Homa]

So. But yeah, so I was like, damn. I was like 11. So it's not like I thought of that at all. But I think who was it Seahorn back in the day? Yeah, he was you. So I, I mimicked my game after him. But yeah, I was, I was all right. I, I, I'm fast. Like that's kind of my thing. Never was a big guy, but I can, I can fly around a little bit and I like saying that. Because you can't prove that. I can't. So it looks like you can probably play.

It looks like you can run around a little bit though.

Yeah, but you're never gonna see it.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So when you're like at a par 5 or something like that, get a good sprint to your ball, you kind of show everybody what's what real quick.

[Max Homa]

That would be funny.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So if he, like hit it and he looked a little bit, watched it land and just yacht like yaks down there, dude, that would be awesome. That'd be incredible. Yeah, put that in the back pocket.

[Max Homa]

I was like 11, and my dad kind of astutely said, hey, man, if you want to be a professional athlete, like, you need to pick one. Like, this is your time. Like, you need to treat it like a job. And he goes, I think you should only be doing one. And I sat there and looked in the mirror and I'm like, well, I'm five foot two, can't really jump. I think I'm fast, but I met a lot of guys faster. And I was like, think golf's the way to do it? So it wasn't like I thought that I was maybe better at golf, but I felt like it might fit me better. I didn't get hit. Nobody had to hit me. And yeah, so then it was like from 11 on, I quit everything else and started going on the golf course six days a week. My parents would drop me off and bang balls. I didn't know I was going to make it, make it for a while, but I've always said, man, for, for anybody who's ever made it, and probably anything but especially sports, you need like the perfect amount of delusion. Because if, when you tell a kid, like, I remember I had teachers be like, what do you want to do in your grow up? I'm like, I'll be on the PJ tour. And they'd be like, okay, but if that doesn't work out, what are you gonna do? And I'm like, why the would that not work out? Like, I work at this as hard as you work at your job. Like, it's gonna work. But, like, looking back on it now as like a 32 year old dude, it's like the fact that a kid. I was just like, yeah, of course I'm gonna make it here is like, you have to be a bit crazy, but, like, you have to have enough of that realism and awareness to know that, like, it's gonna be really hard, but. And you have to change things. Not like, I'm just gonna wake up and just make it. But also you have to have enough delusion to ac Anytime anybody buddy ever said, hell man, you know, that's, that's crazy. Like you might need a backup plan. And I could look at you and be like, no. Like that's, that's not how you make it. You don't make it with a backup plan. So it's kind of fun. But I was thankful my dad did that when I was young because you do, in my opinion, need to. Unless you're one of those freak, you know, Bo Jackson type people. You need to focus on one thing because there's so many people that are working at it and that are great at it. That like you can't be wasting time. I couldn't be wasting time trying to, you know, figure out if I was going to blow up the guy in the flat or not. Like that's just a waste of my time.

So you guys seem like you're more the, the family style that is pick do one sport when you're growing up.

I want, I want.

Because I know you probably are aware of those arguments. I like golf. It could be like golf. You might have to put in that

[Ryan Seacrest]

type of golf, one of those sports. And hockey is one of those sports I got. I agree over 13 in hockey you can't do anything else. Like you got to go do xyz.

[Max Homa]

I, I want my kid, if he decides to play sports, I want him to play all of them. Because I do think it makes you a well rounded human. Like I think that there are golfers who have grown up and only played golf and I think that they now they only play. Yeah. And I don't think that's a good thing. Personality wise it's great for their, their game. But like I don't think. Yeah, that's, but it does feel like that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Max Homa]

It's like they take some themselves very seriously. And it's like our biggest, most popular golf tournament is just a party. That's Scottsdale. So it's like we're not, we're low on the totem pole. We're growing. Tiger put us everybody on the map. He changed the, changed the landscape of golf forever for all the professionals. But at the end of the day I do think that it's important to play a lot of sports just to get. I also think it helps with your hand eye. I think all those things are important to growth. But yeah, I mean it's. Golf is different. It is. It will always be a slower, older, older person's Sport just because it's not taxing on the body. It's the thing that all, you know, so many athletes and so many super athletes decide to like, play after because it's, you know, I was on a phone call with Larry Fitzgerald yesterday, and he is obsessed with golf. You never met somebody more obsessed with golf. And this dude is a no, no doubter, hall of famer probably. I mean, he should be in the conversation for best of all time. And this dude just wants, like, he's asking me questions about how do I get better at golf. Because that's the thing is it doesn't beat him up anymore. It's a passion. It is hard. But I think that his personality and his outlook towards the game is benefited from the fact that he played other things growing up. And I think that's why people love Larry in golf now, because he doesn't take himself seriously, because he's humbled by the game of golf. But we all also respect him because he's a legitimate freak of nature.

[Ryan Seacrest]

When you, you keep saying that golf is always going to be an older man's sport, how do you, like, in what ways can we make the younger generation appreciate golf more? So I'll give you, like, for example, like when I'm in high school, me and all my buddies never thought about golf at all. As soon as everyone graduated college, all of a sudden all my boys are picking up clubs and doing whatever. And like, this is great for business, this is great for that. Like, how do you start leaking into the high school like that, you know, the younger ages that they start picking up the clubs more.

[Max Homa]

So it needs to be more accessible. So golf course I grew up on is par 61. So most golf course, par 72, public golf course had a par three course, nine holes. The longest hole is 150 yards. And it was owned by a company called American Golf. And they had a deal, at least in all the ones that they owned around where I grew up, that, you know, if you were under like 12, 11 or somewhere like that, you could play the part three course for $1 all day, and then you play the big one for like $16. And as golf has boomed because of the pandemic, golf blew up across the country. Golf course are getting more expensive. And that's okay, it's a business. But like, let the kids play. Like get them out there, get them out playing, get them out deals on hitting balls, like banging balls is, you know, let's just say it's $8 a bucket. Make it three. So that they don't have to go beg their parents for $20 and you know, like let make them feel like it's, it's okay. And also it will, I don't know if this one will ever change. But the adults need to get that are at the golf course, need to clean up their act and stop kind of ho hum and oh man, I'm playing with a kid today. It's like my dad would always say that and he liked it because I was, you know, a good player as a young, young kid. But he would say, you know, we get paired with another now there are two dudes that you obviously don't know us strangers. And he would, he'd say he always loved it because they'd roll their eyes to their friend like, oh God, we got to play with this kid today. And my dad would make me play fast. Like if I, if it took me too long to get off the box, he would just have me play up where his drive was. But like by the end of the day these guys like oh my God, this kid's so good. But it's like, don't you. You like judged me before you like the point is to get in like get people into this game. So the, that the pros are doing I think a good job. I have like, I know Patrick Cantley hosts three golf tournaments on the court. On the tournaments we grew up playing in Southern California in the scpga. Southern California Professional Golf Association. So then I'm doing my first one in two weeks and I think that helps a little bit. Kind of giving kids that look up to, you know, maybe, you know, even if they aren't into golf, but they have to watch it because their dad makes them here and there and they see, hey, you know, so and so is hosting a golf tournament. I want to play in that one day. Maybe that could be an avenue, but I just think it could accessibility and these adults need to chill. Like if a kid's being loud at the golf course, you don't need to reprimand them. Like go just say hey, you know, we're a little quieter here to respect thing. But like don't make it where I have to walk on eggshells because I felt like that as a kid a lot. And fortunately my dad didn't make me double down and feel that he's like, hey, you know, kind of like screw them, do your thing, but be respectful. But he said in a nicer way. But there's just like this, it can be stuffy and that just Turns kids off. Kids attention spans are short. That's why football so, like, is, like, America's sport. And it's so fun to watch because it's like, quick, quick hitting highlights. Like, highlights in golf. Like, you. They're slow and they're not as riveting, but if you ever played the game, you'd be like, that's amazing, you know, but it's just like. It's. It's not like, right off the top of your head that it would be, like, so clearly fun. So I. I hope that. I hope that as things go on, like, kids will start to feel more welcome to come out to the course. Because I tell. I tell all the people who are just. Even my friends, as you reference there, they get out of college and like, man, I want to play golf. I don't want to embarrass myself. I'm like. I'm like, who. Who are you worried is going to embarrass you? And they'll be like, oh, you know, there's this guy that was playing the other day. I said, well, just picture this. If I come out, I'll beat the shit out of that guy at golf. Like, he'd be embarrassed to play with me. I don't give a shit. So you go play. Just go have fun. Do your thing. Don't. Like, that's the problem. There's, like, this weird. There's a weird thing in golf that I'm hoping slowly gets. Gets torn down a bit.

[Ryan Seacrest]

But what is that weird thing you're kind of implying? Is it like an uppity vibe?

[Max Homa]

It is, but I just think, like, okay, so if I go play. If I went and played football with you guys, obviously I would look like an actual. Like a giraffe. Like a baby giraffe out there. Like, I wouldn't know what to do. I maybe catch a few. I'd maybe trip a few times. I'd look like an idiot. But I feel like the. The nature of that sport, like, the. The intuition isn't just to immediately, like, make fun of that person. It's like, you know, it's just like, oh, it's fun. It's a backyard game, you know? But golf doesn't feel like a backyard game, at least in how it was made. It was a gentleman's sports, a gentleman's game. But it's like, it. It should be a kid's game. Shit, we're whacking a fucking golf ball through the air, and everyone sucks at it. Like, I suck at it sometimes. Like, it's so hard. So I just think that there is an uppity ness to it that, like, as you get better and you, You. You have to pay to play. So I guess maybe part of it is kind of like going back to the public transportation in the sky thing. Oh, I'm paying $300 for a flight. I don't want this baby crying behind me. It's like, well, tough shit. Like, there's a kid out here going to learn, and he just wants to get better at the same game you want to get better at. Like, let him, like, let him have a chance. Let her have a chance and, like, just see what happens and make it fun and make it enjoyable. There's something weird about maybe it's just the price point of it that I think people feel entitled to. Like, this is my day, and I want it to go exactly how I think it should go. And it just drives me nuts. I'm. I'm glad I grew up at the golf course I grew up at because it was not like that nearly as much. It was a men's club. All the boys had beers. I would sit there and wait for my dad to finish. I'd hit balls, get a soda, and we would go home. And it was very like, everyone can play. No one's getting strokes. Go prove yourself. And that's how you grow up and learn. But golf in general just doesn't seem like it's gotten over that hump fully yet. But I think it will. I think Tiger made an enormous impact on that because he made kids feel cool to play golf. At least for me, when someone's like, oh, you play golf? That's dorky. I'm like, go watch this guy play golf. Because it is not dorky. Is. It's exciting and it's cool.

I think what Netflix is doing too, with that. Yeah, like the Formula one.

Yeah, formula.

But them doing it with the golf and everything else, I think that's going also for you. Like, giving you your flowers. To me, it's like the way you are, your personality on social media, you do make it seem like you have a. An edginess, a looseness about you to where you make the golfing fun. Like, good day, bad day, you're still gonna. Whether it's. You need to show up on social media or not. Like, you make it seem like, oh, he's. He doesn't take it so serious. Even though you are a pro at your craft.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Clearly.

[Max Homa]

If anybody's listening to this, seems like you've been all in on this thing for a while, but I, like, admire from afar your ability to play good or play bad and talk about it in a way that's, like, relatable to people. I feel like people take a big liking to you.

Thank you. Yeah, I guess. I guess I. I'd put it as. I don't. I take what I do very serious. I don't take myself very serious. And I hope that kids and fans of golf grasp that, like, concept, because, like, I want to be everybody every time I play, but I also know that if I don't, it's not everyone's problem that I didn't.

Yeah, man.

And like I said, I. I want golf to flourish. And I. I love this game. And it is. It has a lot of benefits to it for, you know, business and honestly, just joy. And so it's like, at some point, it's. It's fun, and we're playing golf in a field, man. It's. It's awesome, but there's just little. Little walls we got to knock down. Netflix. That's a great point. They'll do a great job of showcasing, at least for kids to be able to see in a real TV show. Like, oh, shit, maybe I want to try that and, like, then get out and do it, because it is weird, man. Like, every. Like you said, every single one of my friends right after college, like, fuck, man. Like, I want to learn how to play golf. What should I do? And I'm like, God dang, I wish you would have said this. We were 15, because I would have a lot more friends.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I know it's. It's 10:20 right now. We know you got to go. But the last thing we'll ask is you seem like your mindset is just, like, really just well done. Like, you seem like you've really put things into perspective, understanding that just because I lost doesn't mean it's everybody else's issue. Enjoying whether you win or lose in the way you project it to everybody else. Like, how is that? Like, has your mindset always been that way, or did you have to navigate through the ups and downs of golf to really find the calm that you're dealing with right now?

[Max Homa]

Yeah, I mean, even that, like, it goes ebbs and flows. I. Some days I'm. I can act like an. I try to keep it to myself, but, like, if you're, you know. You know, Joe, my wife Lacy, like, they would know when I'm being kind of a dick about it. But I guess a lesson I learned, like, I've Always thought of myself as a respectful person. And I remember I. I had a really bad attitude for a while, like, through college. And I can't remember if exactly what happened, but it was one day where I think someone, like, almost pointed out to me, like, when. If. If there's two other people at least playing with us every day, and if I'm being an out there, that person has to deal with me, and I'm ruining their day, and I'm like, oh, that's not what I mean to do. Like, I'm just trying to ruin my own day.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You're just dealing with your own.

[Max Homa]

Yeah. So, like, I guess that's kind of when I also have a bad attitude in my own head now. But I try my best. Like, some people will be like, oh, man, you're so calm, and your attitude's so good. It's like, some days, it's not very good. I just don't want people to see that anymore because it's embarrassing and it's. And it's rude. Like, it's rude to the other guys out there that I play against who are also trying to do the same. I am if they got to deal with some little sour puss, you know, stomping their feet and stuff. But, no, it's. It's. Everything's ebb and flow. But I think as I've. I've gotten older, I've just realized that you're gonna have good weeks, you're gonna have bad weeks, and at the end of the day, you know, the. The journey is. Is that. That's. That's the fun part. The winds come, the winds go. Things, things think. You have bad weeks, you know, where it feels like the end of the world. But, like, the fun part is just getting. Pacing that forever. And I think as I've gotten older and appreciated that, I've appreciated some of the bad days more because it's like, all right, this is the day I'm gonna learn. When you win, you learn a little bit, but you. When you fail, you learn quite a bit. And before, I would kind of back myself away from that and be like, God sucks doing this, but knowing that you're not going to win every golf tournament, it's kind of. You can appreciate the weeks where you have to grind and. And dig it out a little bit and turn, you know, nothing into something. So. But it's. It's all been a learning curve. I mean, if you ask my friends when I was 16 to 20, they probably thought I was the biggest tool bag in the world playing golf, but I've been trying to get better at that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Brother, it's been an absolute pleasure having you on the show.

[Max Homa]

And this is you guys. You guys are the best.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Thank you. Yeah, man. It's been fun watching social media. For those of you subscribe unsubscribe, resubscribe Our favorite golfer of all time, Max Homa. We're rooting for him this week at the Waste Management Buddy. Hope you take home that trophy.

[Max Homa]

Wasn't that delicious? So good. Your bill, ladies. I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I insisted first.

[Max Homa]

Don't be silly. You don't be silly.

[Ryan Seacrest]

People with the Wells Fargo Active Cash

[Max Homa]

credit card prefer to pay because they

[Ryan Seacrest]

earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

[Max Homa]

Okay. Rock, paper, scissors for it. Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot. No.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card. Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash Terms apply if

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