Maverick McNealy in unfamiliar territory as co-leader of PGA Championship
Maverick McNealy is in unfamiliar territory, sharing the 36-hole lead at the PGA Championship for the first time.
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. – Maverick McNealy is in unfamiliar territory at the 108 th PGA Championship. McNealy carded an eagle and three birdies and overcame a couple late bogeys to shoot 3-under 67 at Aronimink Golf Club on Friday and share the 36-hole lead with Alex Smalley.
“I feel like I played 4 1/2 really good hours of golf. Didn't play my best coming in, but there's always good stretches and bad stretches,” he said. McNealy is playing in his 14 th career major championship.
Prior to this week, he had never been among the Top 25 on the leaderboard at the end of 36 holes, and his best result is a T-18 finish at the Masters last month. It’s a bit mind boggling as he’s steadily improved each season on the PGA Tour, winning the 2024 RSM Classic and nearly earning a U. S.
Ryder Cup captain’s pick last season. But majors are set up to be ballstriking tests and his putter could only take him so far. McNealy’s swing needed some refinements so he got to work with swing coach Scott Hamilton and changed his swing pattern after recuperating from tearing the anterior sterno-clavicular ligament in his left shoulder in 2023.