Cal Golf: Max Homa's Amazing Climb to No. 13 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Homa bottomed out at No. 1,282 in the rankings in 2018, but now has 6 PGA titles.

After coming from five strokes down in the final round to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego on Saturday, Cal alum Max Homa appeared more than a little emotional in his post-match TV interview.

No doubt he was thrilled to win his sixth PGA Tour event, his fourth in his home state, his second this season, and his first since the birth of his son, Cam, in October.

The victory was worth more than $1.5 million and lifted Homa three spots to a career-best No. 13 in the current Official World Golf Rankings, released on Monday.

But to appreciate where Homa, 32, is today in his career, it’s important to understand where he’s been.

Max Homa among fans at Torrey Pines / Photo by Ray Acevedo, USA Today

After missing the cut at this same event a year ago, Homa dropped from No. 35 to 37 in the rankings. Even that was tall grass compared to previous years.

He tied for 18th at the Farmers tournament in 2021, boosting him inside the top-100 at No. 96 for the first time in his career.

As recently as five years ago, his world ranking was No. 1,282. It might as well have been 1 million.

Homa has won more than $16.2 million on the tour since the 2018-19 season. But in 2016-17, his winnings totaled $18,008 and he lost his tour card, forced to play the minor-league circuit.

Wife Lacey and their baby were on hand Saturday when he completed his remarkable comeback with a birdie on No. 18. His life is fuller, more complicated with a baby on board, but he credited Lacey for creating an atmosphere that allows him to be both Dad and successful touring pro.

"It's a little different because I feel like I've almost worked harder for this because I want to spend as much time as I possibly can helping her and being with Cam and doing all the cool things, catching some smiles here and there and getting screamed at," Homa told reporters.

"But I also want to be the best golfer on the planet, and she knows that and she just does an amazing job letting me do both, especially when she's here on the road and when I'm home.”

The gallery cheered as Homa approached the 18th green, a demonstration of how popular he is with fans on the tour. His quirky takes about all things on Twitter — where he has more than a half-million followers — adds to his appeal.

He embraces that persona, but that’s not the extent of his ambition.

"Everybody else calls me the social media guy," Homa said. "I still think I'm a pretty darn good golfer. Obviously, (the) results helped me kind of build that foundation. I do like to say dumb things and make dumb jokes and observe weird stuff and tweet about it like, you know, a kid, I guess.

“But when I work, when I practice, when I play tournaments -- this is what I love.”

He wants to be better still. In pursuit of his first career major triumph, Homa welcomes the chance to play the U.S. Open in June at the Los Angeles Country Club, in his hometown, where he owns the course record of 61 and won the 2013 Pac-12 title.

“I’d like to say I’m going to feel just like I do right now,” he said when asked about the event, “but I’m just going to keep working at it, and when I get there I’ll be able to look around and appreciate that I have great history there.”

Homa’s fellow Cal alum, Collin Morikawa finished third at Torrey Pines in his first tournament since surrendering a 6-shot lead in the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions earlier this month.

Morikawa, who once sat at No. 2 in the world rankings for nine consecutive weeks bridging 2021 and ’22, climbed one spot to No. 7 this week. Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm hold down the top three spots.

Cover photo of Max Homa with wife Lacey and infant son Cam by Ray Acevedo, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo