Max Homa continues his search for a seventh PGA Tour title at the WM Phoenix Open, which gets underway at TPC Scottsdale this week.
Homa suffered a huge defeat on his TGL debut with Jupiter Links Golf Club, who have since recovered with a win over Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common. The former now returns his focus to the PGA Tour and the WM Phoenix Open, having made his third start of the season at last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Rory McIlroy won his season-opener as Homa finished T53, having withdrawn from the Farmers Insurance Open after finishing T26 at The Sentry. Michael Greller caddied for Homa at The Sentry, with Jordan Spieth’s caddie having filled in for Joe Greiner.
Max Homa calls Joe Greiner the best caddie on the PGA Tour
Greiner, who was unable to make the trip to Hawaii, has now received huge praise from Homa ahead of the WM Phoenix Open. Asked who he thinks is the best caddie on the PGA Tour on the Son of a Butch with Claude Harmon podcast, he replied: “I mean this with no disrespect to any other caddies, I am friends with a lot of you guys, but Joe is the best caddie on the planet. He works his tail off, he is a phenomenal golfer himself. He has amazing feel. He played professional golf. “He played college golf at our junior college, then turned pro. Played on Canadian Tour and then played the Carolinas Tour and ended up not caddying any more and caddying for me. “Being a lefty, great golfer I don’t think people realise how hard it is for him to see what I do. A righty draw for a lefty. “He is a cutter of the ball like myself, so when we have it in off the right, that’s the dream, I can fade it up against it. “It’s the easiest shot but for him he must stand on that tee and feel uncomfortable just innately. But he does such a great job of saying that tee shot is perfect. “I sometimes say let’s lay up and he’s like no this is the perfect left to right tee ball, cut up against the wind for you. “So for him to have that on the golf course is amazing. His strategy and way of keeping me calm is amazing but off the golf course it’s a lot deeper than the work thing. “I have known Joe since I was six years old and he’s one of my closest friends. We just had my son’s second birthday party and it was all family and Joe and his wife, they are part of my family and I always say this is friends first. “If you don’t want to do this, it’s okay and if you ever think I am being a baby, you tell me. He has done a lot of work. “We didn’t have a great year and it was fairly hard on me but it makes it a lot easier doing it with him and him just saying kind things and hanging out sometimes even off the golf course. It goes a long way. I tell him all the time how appreciative I am of him but I hope he truly does know that.”
Max Homa’s PGA Tour career title record after winless 2024
Homa’s fellow PGA Tour players will, of course, have no hard feelings towards the Americans for his caddie stance. Childhood friends Greiner and Homa have worked in tandem for several years, enjoying plenty of success on the course. Caddies have come under the spotlight more and more in recent times, with the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy enjoying success with Ted Scott and Harry Diamond respectively. Talent certainly goes a long way as PGA Tour victories become increasingly harder to come by, but having a good caddie and indeed a good relationship with that caddie are hugely important. Homa will now be eager for success alongside Greiner sooner rather than later in 2025, having been winless in 2024 after winning five PGA Tour titles in the previous three seasons.
Max Homa’s appreciation for Joe Greiner as his caddie shines through in his recent comments. As Homa gears up for the WM Phoenix Open, he has hailed Greiner as the best caddie on the PGA Tour. Homa’s admiration for Greiner extends beyond his golfing abilities, as they share a deep friendship that has spanned over many years. The duo’s camaraderie and understanding on and off the golf course have played a significant role in their success. While Homa had a winless 2024 season, he remains optimistic about his future prospects, with Greiner by his side. As the WM Phoenix Open commences, all eyes will be on Homa and Greiner as they strive for another victory together.
