Max Homa’s Influence: How Friendship, Fame, and Social Media Shaped Michael Kim’s Golf Comeback
Max Homa and Michael Kim first became close during their college golf careers in the 2012-2013 season while playing for the University of California. The team had a standout season, winning 12 out of 14 events, before falling short in the NCAA Championship semifinals. Despite the years that followed, one of the most meaningful moments of their bond occurred a decade later during a PGA Tour event.
What are the things you guys want to hear about from the Masters?
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) April 1, 2025
In 2023, Kim joined Homa for the Safeway Open, and it was during this event that Kim truly realized how much Homa’s popularity had grown. While Homa already had over 600,000 followers on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kim didn’t grasp what that following meant until he witnessed the large crowd that came specifically to watch Homa play. He described it as a significant eye-opener.
Fast forward to 2025, and Kim still reflects on that moment as pivotal. In a Golf.com interview, he acknowledged that while their professional journeys didn’t align—Kim performing well when Homa struggled, and vice versa—it was that particular Safeway event that made him aware of Homa’s immense fan engagement. After regaining his PGA Tour card in 2022, Kim played the opening rounds with Homa at the Safeway and was stunned by the crowd’s energy and support for Homa.
At that time, Kim was fighting to regain his form. He had lost his PGA Tour card and spent the previous season on the Korn Ferry Tour. Thanks to coaching support from Sean Foley, Kim mounted a successful comeback in 2023, earning four top-10s, eight top-25s, and finishing 84th in the FedEx Cup standings. Seeing Homa’s influence helped shift Kim’s perspective on the power of public presence and fan connection.
Kim has since leaned into social media in his own way, building a following of over 160,000 by offering value-driven content rather than humor or sarcasm. Unlike Homa, who often engages audiences with witty takes, Kim uses his platform to help amateur golfers by sharing practice insights, training tips, and even responding to swing videos with coaching feedback. He once offered a live swing analysis from an airport in Istanbul, although no one took him up on it.
In 2024, Kim acknowledged that Homa played a major role in helping him take social media and branding seriously. Homa’s example showed him what was possible. Though Kim’s social presence is more informative than entertaining, it has nonetheless grown significantly.
One notable example of Kim’s growing influence came when fellow social media golfer Grant Horvat was invited to play at the Barracuda Championship—a PGA Tour event—through a sponsor’s exemption. Unsure whether he should accept, Horvat turned to social media for advice. Kim encouraged him publicly, stating that sponsor invites are legitimate and that anyone suggesting otherwise was simply wrong. Horvat appreciated the support, responding with a heartfelt “Respect.”
Earlier in 2025, Kim also enjoyed a career boost on the course. After notching three top-six finishes, he rose to a career-high world ranking of 52nd. Staying true to his humorous side, he tweeted that he was “currently a better golfer than Jon Rahm,” jokingly referencing the temporary shift in rankings.
Through all these experiences, from his college days with Max Homa to his social media growth and career revival, Michael Kim’s journey underscores how friendship, visibility, and self-awareness can reshape a professional athlete’s path—both on and off the course.