Max Homa looks for major breakout in return to home in US Open

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Max Homa knows he could walk around Los Angeles Country Club this week like he owns the place.

After all, he's returning to his hometown to play in the 123rd U.S. Open, and he's doing it at a hallowed venue where he set the course record with a 61 at the Pac-12 championships a decade ago.

Homa will have big, loud, supportive galleries at this Beverly Hills-adjacent golf haven while he chases his first major title this week. He already tasted that atmosphere Tuesday when he played his practice round with Michael Kim, his college teammate at California when he shot that course-record 61.

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Max Homa of the United States speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club on June 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.  (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

"On a regular basis I get people yelling my college if they went there, (but) getting people yelling my high school is different, so that’s been awesome," Homa said. "It’s just a really great golf course in my favorite city in the world."

Homa is already one of the most interesting players on the PGA Tour, and his latest return to LA has the potential to be a landmark moment in his career. A personable, loquacious athlete with a stellar social media game and an even better golf game, Homa is only missing his first major victory to cement his elite place in the sport.

But Homa is also an intellectually curious guy who's eternally trying to master the mental side of golf, and he also recognizes the wave of pressure carrying the potential to swamp him this week.

Even without