Maverick McNealy earns first PGA Tour victory
29-year-old wins RSM Classic in dramatic fashion
At long last, Maverick McNealy鈥檚 search for a PGA Tour victory has come to an end.
In his 142nd career PGA Tour start, and on the final day of the 2024 season, the 29-year-old won the 2024 RSM Classic in thrilling fashion, making birdie on the final hole to win by one stroke.
鈥淚鈥檝e hit a putt on a putting green to win a golf tournament in my mind thousands and thousands of times,鈥� McNealy said. 鈥淚t was almost like d茅j脿 vu standing over that last one and it came off perfect. I鈥檓 at a loss for words.鈥�
McNealy entered Sunday鈥檚 final round in a tie for the lead at -14, in large part to a career-best -8 (62) in round one. Two birdies on the front nine helped Maverick maintain a one-shot lead at the turn, but a tough stretch on the back nine saw Maverick down one through 16. As both leaders in front of him made bogey on 18, McNealy found himself back in a share of the lead with one hole to play. One of the best six irons of his life and a short birdie putt later, Maverick could finally exhale as a PGA Tour champion.
鈥淚 give so much credit to (Maverick鈥檚 caddie and brother) Scout,鈥� McNealy said. 鈥淚 was struggling on the back nine. Things weren鈥檛 coming off quite as clean and he had me busting a gut laughing before I hit that birdie putt on 17. That鈥檚 just something I didn鈥檛 think was possible and it鈥檚 something I鈥檓 so grateful that he was there for. It settled me down a little bit. He kept reminding me the same swing keys, told me to compress that 6-iron that came off perfect.鈥�
It鈥檚 been quite the journey for McNealy on the PGA Tour. After earning his Tour card in 2019, McNealy endured a bit of a bumpy ride, especially over the last two years battling a myriad of injuries that cut his seasons short. All the adversity and the hard work it鈥檚 taken to get back makes this one even sweeter, and McNealy was effusive in crediting his support system.
鈥淢y family is here. My whole team is watching. I鈥檓 just so happy that I got one for them,鈥� McNealy said. 鈥淚 have an amazing group of individuals 鈥� 鈥楾eam Mav.鈥� I鈥檝e worked so hard for seven years and they have been nothing but unbelievable. Everyone that works for me 鈥� my coaches and trainers, it鈥檚 an individual sport but it鈥檚 a team sport and they鈥檝e done everything right. I haven鈥檛 had a win to show for it and I鈥檓 just so so glad that we can all celebrate together because they deserve it so much."
Beyond the significance of his first PGA Tour victory, the win has major implications for Maverick鈥檚 2025 season. As a FedEx Cup fall event winner, McNealy will receive 500 FedExCup Points, Official World Golf Ranking points and a two-year winner鈥檚 exemption. He will also be eligible for The Sentry, THE PLAYERS Championship, as well as eligibility into major championships that invite PGA TOUR winners, including the 2025 Masters.
Congratulations, Mav!!!