Max Homa celebrates with Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa after making his putt on the 18th green to win with teammate Billy Horschel 1-up against Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith. Jared Tilton

By Evin Priest
Not even LIV Golf could put a price on Max Homa’s Presidents Cup debut. On Friday, the 31-year-old Team USA rookie drained two birdie putts to crush the spirit of Internationals Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith — just when it was looking like the Canadian duo were going to snag an upset match victory in the lopsided fourballs session.

After Day 2 play, the US led 8-2, having dominated the Internationals again.

Pendrith and Conners had fought from 2-down to be all square with two holes remaining. But Homa made a 13-foot birdie on Quail Hollow’s 17th to win the hole and go 1-up. On the 18th, Pendrith responded with a birdie to hold hope of winning the hole and halving the match. But Homa poured his birdie in the middle of the cup to earn a victory for himself and fourball partner Billy Horschel. It was Homa’s second point of the week.

The Californian was considerably more elated on Friday at Quail Hollow than last week in Napa, when he secured his fifth PGA Tour win at the Fortinet Championship when Danny Willett three-putted the 72nd hole from short distance. On Friday, Homa furiously fist-pumped and chest-bumped on the 18th green with teammates Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa, as well as Horschel.

“I was telling my wife, when we talk about things money can’t buy, money cannot buy that feeling,” Homa said in a press conference after the match. His reference to LIV’s huge guaranteed-money contracts was obvious when Horschel, sitting beside Homa, heard his response and turned to Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas with a broad grin. Horschel has been one of the most outspoken critics of LIV. “That was something that I will remember forever,” Homa continued. “I will tell anybody, whoever wants to hear about it how that felt.

“It’s a hundred times better [than winning an individual PGA Tour event]. I am very close with my personal team; you feel like you have this little nucleus that relies on your good play. But this is different. You’ve got captains that have won majors. You have players who have won multiple majors. You have the best golfers on planet Earth relying on you and to show up and show out for them is just nothing like a regular golf tournament.”

You may also like:
Golf Digest Middle East presents Oktoberfest 2022
US dominate Internationals on Day 2 of Presidents Cup
LPGA announce new event hosted by Michelle WIe
Reed to line up with LIV Golfers at Alfred Dunhill Championship
Hsieh becomes youngest player to make cut on tour
Monahan tight-lipped on LIV Golf rankings quest
Tiger helps out at Presidents Cup
Perez brings the LIV party to Asia
Key moments from Day 1 at Presidents Cup
Should the Presidents Cup bring in the LPGA players
Justin Thomas is a hard ‘no’ on PGA Tour v LIV Golf
Greg Norman shut out of Shootout
Adam Scott on why he shunned LIV Golf
LOOK: The latest LIV Golf standings after Chicago
Five ways to improve the Presidents Cup
Every player at the 2022 Presidents Cup ranked and rated
Davis Love finds his voice — thanks to LIV
WATCH: LIV Golf highlights from Chicago
WATCH: Willett’s three-putt to lose Fortinet
Pay day in Chicago: Who won what at LIV Golf?
Loud and proud crowd the difference at Presidents Cup
WATCH: Bryson gets in a tangle at  Chicago LIV event
Laklalech becomes first Arab to win on LET
Chiara Noja secures LET card for 2023
Get your FREE September edition of Golf Digest Middle East here