**Max Homa Carries His Own Bag and Faces Challenges in U.S. Open Qualifier**

In Columbus, Ohio, Max Homa made an unusual sight in the U.S. Open qualifier as he navigated the course on Monday without a caddie. Instead, Homa carried his own bag, a rare occurrence for a PGA Tour player, drawing significant attention on social media.

Homa recently parted ways with his caddie of two months, Bill Harke, a split confirmed by a source who noted Harke had "lost his job." The information was shared under the condition of anonymity, as Homa has yet to publicly address the situation. When approached about the caddie matter, Homa expressed a preference to focus on the game rather than the split.

"I'd much rather talk about the golf instead of all the questions about the caddie," Homa stated, acknowledging the 36 holes he completed with evident exhaustion.

Reflecting on his performance, Homa admitted, "It's going to probably be heartbreaking, but it's all right," revealing he last carried his own bag for such a distance a while ago.

Homa's effort culminated in a five-man playoff after his three-putt for par on the 36th hole at Kinsale. He was close to securing a spot in the U.S. Open, but Cameron Young claimed the final position with a decisive 12-foot birdie. Homa also lost a subsequent playoff for an alternate spot.

When questioned about his overall demeanor amidst the day's challenges, Homa hinted at finding solitude beneficial. "It seems to be better than when someone is standing next to me for some reason," he said. "I might need to walk by myself more. Maybe I just looked at it as a nice, peaceful walk. Probably got to battle some demons and have no one to lean on. Maybe that helps a little bit. There's no one... everything is me."

The qualifier at Kinsale provided six spots for the U.S. Open set to take place at Oakmont next week. Throughout the day, Homa hovered near the bubble, illustrating resilience despite setbacks. He encountered a double bogey after leaving a chip in the rough on his ninth hole of the second round but quickly countered with two consecutive birdies.

As Homa approached his final hole, a par-5, his second shot landed 25 feet from the hole. However, the uphill putt did not settle as hoped, leading to a three-putt for par and finishing at 5-under 139.

Reflecting on the past year when he was ranked No. 10 in the world, Homa acknowledged significant changes in his career. He has switched equipment and coaches and parted ways with his long-time caddie just before the Masters.

Homa noted that while he did not feel fatigued during most of the day due to being near the cutoff, the exhaustion became palpable after his final hole. Facing the qualifier alone, he opted for a conservative approach, which he considered a prudent strategy on an unfamiliar course.

Homa, who is currently playing in the Canadian Open, still holds a slender chance of qualifying for the U.S. Open. A victory this week could potentially elevate him into the top 60, securing his place in the prestigious tournament.