The advent of daily fantasy sports has made professional golf’s seemingly insignificant early rounds much more interesting for fans with a vested interest, but that hasn’t meant that the pros actually hitting the shots are any more or less engaged.
Regardless, the Tour pros’ apathy for a fan’s rooting interest received some publicity this week as Max Homa turned some social media flack into a solid charitable contribution.
Playing in this week’s guaranteed-money, no-cut WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Homa shot a disappointing 4-over par 74 on Thursday to tumble towards the bottom of the leaderboard. After his round, Homa caught some heat from social media followers who had rostered him on their fantasy golf teams.
I can’t emphasize enough how little I care about messing up ur guys’ fantasy golf lineups
— max homa (@maxhoma23) July 25, 2019
“I can’t emphasize enough how little I care about messing up ur guys’ fantasy golf lineups,” Homa wrote after his single-birdie performance.
While Homa caught some grief from followers and even fellow Tour pro Steven Bowditch for his lack of compassion for one of the sport’s most supple emerging markets, one follower made a statement that turned into a windfall of money for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Now this is awesome. I’m doing this too. I appreciate u! Let’s give it to @StJude Thanks! https://t.co/9dObmDCjpu
— max homa (@maxhoma23) July 26, 2019
“Max, I’ll help put a little good light on D.F.S. and hope others will join,” Twitter user @blaunder said. “Name a charity and I’ll do $25 per birdie you get tomorrow.”
Homa quickly accepted the offer and encouraged others to similarly donate while also maintaining his well-publicized sense of humor.
Somehow this fantasy golf discussion has started something great. Some of u guys have decided to donate money to St Jude for every birdie I make tomorrow. I appreciate u guys! I challenge more of u to do the same. I made 1 whole birdie today so don’t be shy
— max homa (@maxhoma23) July 26, 2019
“Somehow this fantasy golf discussion has started something great,” Homa wrote. “Some of (you) guys have decided to donate money to St. Jude for every birdie I make tomorrow. I appreciate (you) guys! I challenge more of (you) to do the same. I made 1 whole birdie today so don’t be shy.”
While others joined in on the charitable donation, Homa did his part by putting four circles on his card on Friday. Despite shooting a 3-over par 73, he was still able to take some positives out of his round.
4 birdies today folks! More bogeys but hey at least we helped some kids. Appreciate everyone who already donated but for those who haven’t here’s a link! Doin this the rest of the week if ur up for it https://t.co/09eCUVLrR1
— max homa (@maxhoma23) July 26, 2019
Homa pledged to donate for every birdie he made for the rest of the week, racking up eight birdies through three rounds. He enters Sunday’s final round well out of contention, but with every birdie, he makes more fans at St. Jude.
