Max Homa Misses 2025 U.S. Open After Playoff

Max Homa, a six-time PGA Tour winner, failed to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont after carrying his own bag for 36 holes during the Columbus, Ohio qualifier, following a recent split with caddie Bill Harke and an earlier split with longtime caddie Joe Greiner. Homa was the only player in the field without a caddie and suggested that walking alone helped him 'battle some demons' but also left him exhausted. A three-putt on his final hole put him in a five-man playoff, which Cameron Young won with a birdie. Homa then lost again in a playoff for an alternate spot, ending his streak of major appearances since 2019. Despite the setback, he received widespread praise for his sportsmanship, including signing autographs for fans. The story resonated beyond golf, inspiring retail sentiment in other sectors such as crypto markets.