Max Homa refuses to talk about caddie issue after U.S. Open heartbreak

PGA Tour golfer Max Homa refused to discuss why he split with his latest caddie after he came up agonisingly short of securing a place in the 2025 U.S. Open. 

Homa was one of several notable names that took part in Final Qualifying yesterday for the third men's major of the year at Oakmont.

The multiple PGA Tour winner raced out of the blocks in round one on golf's longest day and was on course to carding a 5-under 67 in the opening round only to be undone by back-to-back bogeys at 17 and 18. 

He regrouped for round two at Kinsale Fitness Club in Ohio and had a golden opportunity to seal his spot in the forthcoming major championship at the 18th hole. 

Homa found the par-5 closer in two strokes but ended up three-putting. 

His closing par meant that he dropped into a five-way playoff with Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young, Eric Cole and Chase Johnson.

Fowler secured his spot in The Open over the weekend at the Memorial and was hoping to qualify for two majors in two days. 

Young ended up sealing his spot to leave Homa absolutely crestfallen.

What caught the eye for interested observers of the 36-hole marathon was the fact Homa carried his own bag for all 38 holes he ended up playing.

Did he give his latest caddie - Bill Harke - the day off or had they split?

Homa appeared to suggest the later when he spoke to AP about his exhausting day.

"I'd much rather talk about the golf instead of all the questions about the caddie," Homa said. "I'm good. Just hoofed it 36."

A source told the Associated Press that Harke 'lost his job'. 

Of his performance, Homa said: "It's going to probably be heartbreaking, but it’s all right.

"I haven't carried my bag 36 holes in a while so I'm a little tired."

Homa is not out of the U.S. Open yet. 

He is in the field for this week's RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto, though it is likely that he needs to win the PGA Tour stop in order to jump back into the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking to qualify.

Homa has slipped to 90 in the world rankings. 

He began the year comfortably inside the top 50 but has endured a miserable stretch of results. 

At the turn of the year, Homa confirmed he had hired a new coach and also switched equipment from Titleist to Cobra. 

He began the season by sharing 26th position at The Sentry. 

Homa withdrew during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and then proceeded to miss five cuts in a row before The Masters.

At Augusta National, Homa confirmed he had been sacked by his long-term caddie Joe Greiner.

Homa revealed Greiner made the decision so as to preserve their friendship.

"I would much rather walk life with Joe forever than this dumb game," Homa previously said.

Greiner has since been snapped up by Collin Morikawa after the two-time major champ made the shock decision to part ways with JJ Jakovac.