Max Homa wasted no time reminding fans why he’s the defending champion of the Nedbank Golf Challenge Round One, finishing the day with a commanding one-shot lead.
The American Ryder Cup star, who captured the title on his tournament debut last November, showed his class yet again at South Africa’s Gary Player Country Club.
Homa, ranked World Number 34, began his defence with a blistering display of precision.
He opened his round with three consecutive birdies, setting the tone for what would be an impressive day. By the turn, he had already stacked up six birdies and was leading the field.
The back nine, however, posed a challenge. Two bogeys briefly slowed his momentum, but Homa responded like a champion.
He closed his round in emphatic style with birdies on the final two holes, securing a six-under-par 66.
His strong finish edged him ahead of South African Ockie Strydom, who held the clubhouse lead for much of the day.
Max Homa: “I thought I played really well. It was really tricky with the wind, it did a complete flip on seven, so it threw us through a bit of a loop, but I thought we did a really good job of adjusting to it.
Made one mistake on 15 leaving it long of that pin, but otherwise I did a pretty good job of playing within myself and not hitting shots I don’t love to hit, so yeah it was good.
“It felt really good because I haven’t played a tournament in a while and I have been working on a lot of new stuff, so to come out and birdie the first three holes was cool.
The way I was doing it felt nice, and I felt really comfortable with the golf swing for the most part, so it is definitely one I will remember that is for sure.
“Just the way I drove the ball all season was terrible and you come to a golf course like this where you cannot fake it off the tee, you need to hit some good tee shots and you are going to be uncomfortable with the wind, so you obviously want to come here and win but I am trying to get ready for next season and put to use some of this work I have done.
So, to see something that I can take with me going back home is a big deal, so just that alone I am very happy with.”
Strydom, buoyed by home support, delivered a standout performance of his own. The local favourite carded an eagle, four birdies, and a single bogey for a five-under 67, sitting just one stroke behind Homa.
Ockie Strydom: “Overall, I’m very happy. I’ve been struggling with a couple of injuries and all that stuff so I’m happy to be pain-free at the moment.
“But to be out there competing again is very pleasant for me at the moment.
“You’ve got to score on the par fives. The par fours are quite tricky, the par threes are tricky. And you’ve got to hit a good tee-shot at the par fives as well to do it.
“So, to be minus (three) on the par fives is a decent score.”
Further down the leaderboard, a four-way tie for third saw Pablo Larrazábal, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Jordan, and Thorbjørn Olesen finish at four under, two shots adrift of Strydom.
Each showcased flashes of brilliance, keeping the competition tight heading into the second round.
The stage is set for a thrilling contest as the tournament progresses. Can Homa maintain his lead, or will the chasing pack rise to the occasion? Round Two promises plenty of drama.
