At Fortinet, Justin Thomas seeking what he had

NAPA — Such a simple game, golf. A ball sitting there on the tee or the fairway that you keep hitting in the right direction. Until inexplicably it goes in the wrong direction. 

Like the career of Justin Thomas.

It isn’t baseball, where a pitcher keeps you off balance. Or football where an opponent may knock you off balance. 

But golf certainly can throw you off balance. Even if you’ve twice finished first in the PGA Championship, one of the majors, as Thomas has.

Now as the PGA Tour has its annual restart with the Fortinet Championship at Silverado, Thomas is looking for a personal restart. He had, well, a very bad year.

For a while, he was 71st on the money list. He missed the cut in three of the four majors. He had to sweat out being chosen as a captain’s pick — “like trying to call an ex-girlfriend” — for the Ryder Cup (He was selected).

You’re trying to figure out yourself while at the same time, others are trying to figure you out. And maybe at the same time they are worried it could happen to them.

But at age 29, Thomas, the son and grandson of golf pros, appears to have conquered his demons, if not specifically the cures to what ails him.

When the great Ben Hogan was asked by other players how to improve he had a terse answer: “It’s in the dirt.”

Meaning, just hit practice shot after practice shot, until there were divots from the repetitive digging into the grass and get turf. Thomas plans to continue his digging, literally and as a byproduct, emotionally until he’s content with signs of progress.

”Anytime you’re going forward,” said Thomas, “or moving forward — I don’t want to say moving on — but grow and get better I’m excited. I definitely am hard on myself but I kind of reminded some of the stuff Max Homa said.”

Homa, who’s going for a third consecutive Fortinet title pointed out he and the other golfers knew well Thomas was far too superior to languish so far down in the Tour rankings, even briefly.

Thomas has been both defending and explaining himself on social media, the outlet of choice for the 20 and 30 somethings. He has split with former putting coach John Graham. 

“Everything, fundamentally or mechanically, or on the putting green was as good as it could get. Basically what I told (Graham) is you can’t go out and make the putts for me. That’s something only I can do.” 

Whether he accomplishes the task might be evident at the Fortinet. Silverado’s greens can be difficult. 

“I’ve been practicing getting the ball in the hole,” said Thomas. “I don’t care how it looked. All that mattered was getting the ball in the hole.”  

And along with that getting his game out of the hole. As we’ve been told forever, in golf “it ain’t how it’s how many.”

Tiger, Genesis both winners

PACIFIC PALISADES — Those guys high on the leaderboard three rounds into this very-much-in-doubt Genesis Invitational are some of golf’s current big guns. Jon Rham, Max Homa, and Keith Mitchell.

That guy who made the run on Saturday nobody expected — except him — is arguably the biggest, the top gun if you will, Tiger Woods.

He’s not going to win, not going to gain 12 shots on Rahm, who shot 65 for a 15-under total of 198, or Homa, who had a 69 for 201.

But in a way, Woods already is a winner — and so is the Genesis, which surprisingly, will have the unmatched attraction of Tiger for four rounds.

In virtually his hometown, or at least  40 miles away from his hometown in Orange County.

On a course where in 1992 he played for the first time in a PGA Tour tournament, famed Riviera — Hogan’s Alley — where despite all his success, Woods never has been a champion. 

Surprisingly, because after a 74 Friday that pushed Tiger to the edge of the cut line and had everyone concerned with Woods throwing a Tampon at playing partner Justin Thomas, Tiger on Saturday shot 67 — his lowest since the car accident two years ago.

“The golf has been nice,” Woods’ caddy Joe LaCava, told Barstool’s Dan Rapoport. “But the fact that he’s been holding up, looking healthy, and not tiring at the end of rounds is a good sign.”

That he’s not retiring at the end of the round if it’s a good normal round. Woods was on two as are most Tour pros. He was in the hole-in-one, an eagle, as are some of the pros. The roar rolled down to the coast a half-mile away.

“Yeah, today was better,” said Tiger.

His smile was worth more than words. 

“I felt like I made some nice adjustments with my putting and that was the thing that held me back yesterday. I’ve driven it well the last three days, my iron play has been good. And the firm conditions I like, that's kind of right up my alley with iron play.’’

Homa the Cal grad, as Tiger was a kid from Southern California, Valencia. He said he took up golf as a youngster after watching Woods on TV at the 1997 Masters.

That’s an explanation often heard from many of the Tour’s new stars. Now they’ve moved into territory once claimed by Woods.

That’s the way it’s always been in all sports. New people move in as older stars slip away. Not that Tiger Woods, 47, is ready to take his leave.     

“I was saying earlier, I can hit golf balls,” said Tiger. “Thinking about the future, I can chip and putt back home and I can do all that stuff. It’s taken a bit of time.”

Golf is a sport without a clock. You play until you are not able. Tiger showed he still is able.

Big odds against Tiger who had a big day

PACIFIC PALISADES — So the odds on Tiger Woods just making the cut at the Genesis Invitational, 10-1, are the same as Scottie Scheffler winning the whole thing.

Why not? It used to be that golfers only gambled on themselves, making sure they got strokes from those willing to give them in friendly games. 

Now as with every other sport, golf is awash in betting.

And as you are aware the oddsmakers merely are trying to establish an even floor. They’re not rooting against Tiger. Or for him. They’re rooting for everyone else to offer their hard-earned cash for the chance to win. 

If you can’t drive or putt — or bring a wedge shot down a couple of feet from the pin, like Thursday’s unsurprising first-round leaders Max Homa, Keith Mitchell or Jon Rahm, then betting on them gets you into the game.

Golf historically is a sport of gambling. When the purses were small back in the late 1930s and early 1940s, a pro could earn more by winning a bet than by winning a tournament.

And even now, when they can get rich by getting a victory, pros bet during practice rounds. So as they say, there’s something at stake.    

What’s at stake in this Genesis is a $20 million total payoff with $3.6 million to the guy who ends up in first Sunday afternoon.

After 18 holes at Riviera Country Club on a cool, overcast Thursday — hey, it’s winter even in Southern California — Homa and Mitchell were tied for first with a 7-under par 64 and Rahm was a shot behind at 65. Yes. Those names have been noticeable in the last few tournaments.  

Homa, the Cal grad who was a winner at Riviera in the past, was just outside the top 10 at Pebble Beach two weeks ago. Mitchell was tied for fourth there. Rahm made a run at Phoenix, where Scheffler won for a second straight year.

Earlier this week in a pre-tournament media session someone asked Homa who he would pick between Rahm and Rory McIlroy. Maybe someone should have asked McIlroy, who opened with a 4-under 67, who he would choose between Rahm and Homa.

On any given day, no matter the odds, the average fan would choose Tiger. And in his first Tour event since missing the cut in the British Open last July, Woods had a 2-under 69. Scheffler had a 1-under 70, and you wonder what that does to the Tiger vs Scheffler bettors. If it does anything. 

The crowd was Tiger-crazy, seemingly as thrilled to have him back as he was thrilled to be back.

 “It was a lot louder than I had remembered-- I haven't played in any tournament in a long time,” said Woods, repeating himself. “I was trying to calm my nerves. I didn't really look up as much. I probably should have, but I didn't. I was trying to calm myself down all day, trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing out here because I haven't played. I had to try and figure out what the chess match is going to be.”

As opposed to what the odds are.

Lights, camera, action: it’s Hollywood golf

The movie industry figured long ago what golf has always recognized: there’s more to being famous than just being talented, although that certainly is an advantage. You need some flash, or a background that puts you in the neighborhood at least.

When club pros from the chill and snow of the East Coast came to California as their courses closed down for the winter, they began playing in the West.

This week’s Tour event, the Genesis, began in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open, and with victories by Ben Hogan — whose statue is alongside the practice putting green — and Sam Snead, it was both an anchor and a prime draw for competitive golf.

In what will be the best field of any tournament this winter are Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and the hottest guy the last 15 months and world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, who as you know won again last Sunday in Phoenix.

There was a movie about Hogan, “Follow the Sun,” but the main role was portrayed by Glenn Ford. To the contrary, the Netflix series “Full Swing” uses the actual players and their families.

Yes, reality TV with a 3-putt. You might say the pros, sometimes wary of what the media will say, are fascinated and fearless. Tony Finau’s tale is a bit of a fairy tale. Son of a baggage handler at San Francisco International, Finau, a prep basketball star after the family resettled in Salt Lake City, quickly became great at golf.

Asked if he were excited fans would learn his beginnings, Finau said, “Yeah, just going back to the storytelling, my upbringing I think is quite different than most, and I take you back to Salt Lake City a little bit, to where it started. I think with the humble beginnings that I have, that was really a cool part of the story.

“I wanted to be a part of it. I think early, I was one of the first guys to commit to doing this, and I was really just honored that Netflix wanted to do a show on golf. I thought that that was an avenue that needed to be shown and I thought that there were going to be a lot of great stories and I was just happy that they looked at me and said that I could be a part of it.

“Honestly, early on I was just honored that I could be one of the guys, so I committed early. Again, I didn't really know what to expect, but I was more than happy to kind of open my doors to Netflix to just allow them some access to off-course stuff. the storytelling. I think they've done a great job. Time will tell if everyone agrees.”

Everyone does agree that in individual sports, golf and tennis, it’s the names that keep us involved. Max Homa, who grew up in L.A., graduated from Cal and has won six tournaments including the Fortinet at Silverado, pointed out that the names on top change weekly.

He then was asked, “Are you more of a (Rory) McIlroy or more of a (Jon) Rahm guy?”

“You can't pick on me for that,” said Homa. “There's too many good players. I don't know, I just played with Rahm last week and he's pretty fun to watch.”

Which we may find out on Netflix, if not in the galleries. Around here, everyone’s ready for lights, camera and action.

Willett couldn’t lose Fortinet, but he lost

NAPA, Calif. — It was the start of a new season in golf. It was the same old story in sport.

It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. Which, in this game, means not until the final shot is hit. Or missed.

No way Danny Willett was not going to win the Fortinet Championship on this damp Sunday afternoon. He had a one-shot lead over Max Homa and was on the 18th green with a very makeable 3-foot 7-inch putt for a birdie 4 and the victory.

Meanwhile, Homa was in the wet semi-rough, 33 feet from a birdie that, if somehow he could make with a miracle chip, would just put him in a tie and force a playoff.

You know what happened. Golf happened. Not only did Willett knock his putt about 4 feet past the hole, he followed it by also knocking the comebacker some 3 feet past the hole.

His birdie was transformed, yikes, into a bogey. And when Homa chipped in (do you believe in miracles or merely the nature of golf?), Willett, a former Masters champ, was a stunned runner-up. And for a second straight year Homa, the Cal grad, was first in the Fortinet.

“Yeah, obviously going to remember that last (putt),” said Willett.

The question is whether he’ll be able to forget it. Agony in golf seems to persist, even when you’ve won a major and mostly playing the European (now DT) Tour seven tournaments in all.

Homa, who trailed by as many as three shots during a day when the forecast rains came on early and then again late, had a final-round 68, 4-under-par on Silverado Country Club’s North Course, for a 72-hole total of 16-under 272. Willett was a shot worse in both categories, 69 for 273.

“Nice to be in contention,” was the philosophical comment from Willett, an Englishman who spends most of his time playing on the east side of the Atlantic. Willett only decided to enter the Fortinet because he had been elevated to exempt status on the PGA Tour when several other players defected to the rebel LIV Tour.

Might as well get a jump on the other guys. Sure, he needed a 5,000-mile flight to California, but hey, if you don’t like to travel, try a more sedentary occupation.  

“Hit a little firm,” was his description of the first putt. “But all in all, a great week.”

Not as good a week as Homa’s, admittedly.

Now, Max goes to the Presidents’ Cup, thrilled to represent the United States in team play for the first time. At 31, he knows well the non-secret to success on the links: patience. Let the game come to you. You’ll make your birdies — and eagles — so plug away.

”You know,” said Homa, “my coach said just hang around. And I don’t know, but these minutes are kind of a blur. Danny played great, but I just tried to play my game and see where it got me.

“I don’t know. It was a wild finish.”

A finish with all the elements that make the placid game of golf wonderfully enthralling. Or very difficult to accept, when you make a mess of things.

Fortinet champ Homa is back; so is LIV controversy

NAPA, Calif. — The best thing about this LIV Tour business, or maybe the worst thing, is it has mature men who make millions hitting a little ball across exquisitely groomed fields acting like, well, less than mature men.

Not included in the category is Max Homa, the Cal grad, who on Thursday opened defense of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Country Club and took part in a controversy not entirely of his own creation.

As you are aware, a group of billionaire oil sheiks, urged on by a disenfranchised Greg Norman, who very well could play golf but not the game of life, has chosen to take its assets and confront the sport’s establishment, the PGA Tour by forming a new tour, the LIV.

So golf, an activity in which competitors call penalties on themselves and invariably shake hands at the close of play, is now full of controversy and anger.

You probably are aware that people such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have positioned themselves on the side of the Tour. Well, so has Homa, if because he is less famous not as noticeably. Except to a few LIV zealots, including former president Donald Trump.

The Presidents Cup is a competition between teams from the U.S. and anyplace other than Europe, for which the players qualify either via a yearly point system or through the selection of the team captain.

The captain of the American team for the match in two weeks is Davis Love III, and he picked Homa, which since Max finished tied for fifth in the FedEx standings seems not only legitimate but appropriate.

However, one individual says Homa should not have been selected because he’s never won a major championship. The critic has been identified as a supporter of Donald Trump.

Homa, given name John Maxwell Homa, has never been one to avoid any issue, particularly one in which he is involved. He needed to work his way up from what then was the Buy.com Tour to the big leagues. The victory in last year’s Fortinet was his fourth on the PGA Tour.

Asked about the struggle between the LIV and the PGA Tour, Homa used the word “bizarre.”

“It’s actually funny,” he added. “Last year, I was saying this seemed like the craziest time to be alive. My grandma said it’s not so crazy. I said, what do you mean? She said, ‘You’re on this planet long enough, you just kind of go with the flow.’”

That is not to be confused with going with the LIV Tour.

“Yeah,” said Homa, “the landscape of golf seems like it’s changing. As a fan and a member of the PGA Tour, I’m not happy. I’m not happy that a lot of people are being snarky on both sides.

“I’d like golf to succeed out here, but I think it’s easy to look at it and say the PGA Tour is getting diluted a bit. But there are a lot of great golfers in the world. There are a lot of people picking on one side, on both sides, and that’s a bummer.”

He said the questions about him being named to the Presidents Cup team were a big deal.

Indeed, but still not as big as the question about what will happen as the PGA Tour and LIV continue to make a mess out of things.