Sometimes the smallest changes can net the biggest results. Take, for example, Maverick McNealy, who tweaked his putter ever so slightly, opting for one with a dot rather than a stripe down the back. The result? McNealy led the field with 125 feet in putts made during the third round of action at the RBC Heritage in Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, GA, and his 65 put him just two shots off the lead heading into the final round of action.
McNealy, whose first PGA Tour victory came down the coast at Sea Harbor in the 2024 RSM Classic, sits at 13 under after 54 holes while leader Si Woo Kim is at 15 under. Andrew Novak and Justin Thomas are both at 14 under. "It got fun and interesting. Putter is back, which is great, after a short hiatus. Made a couple of really good ones, maybe missed one or two that I wish I had. Overall, very happy with the round of golf today," McNealy said.
"I switched to a new putter. It's basically the exact same thing. It's an Odyssey 22. The only thing we changed is, instead of going from a line on the back of the putter, we just did a dot right on the sweet spot of the putter on the top line. For whatever reason, I'm lining it up super square. Last week at the Masters, I had a few short putts that I just didn't feel really comfortable with my alignment, especially starting the ball outside the hole. Tried this, was lining it up way more square, and everything inside of six feet has been coming off really nicely."
McNealy is now in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking, a significant achievement after recovering from a shoulder injury. In early 2023, McNealy tore the anterior sterno-clavicular ligament in his left shoulder during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am. During the second round, while playing the seventh hole at Monterey Peninsula Club’s Shore Course, he remembers a long wait in cold weather and then making a “funny swing,” in which his angle of attack got too steep, leading to being stuck underneath and having to shallow late to get his shoulder back in position.
But he capped off a huge 2024, one in which he finished in the top 25 in 12 of 28 starts, by winning the RSM Classic. He followed it up with an equally strong 2025, one that could get an exclamation with a win at RBC. Either way, he's thrilled to be in the top 10, barely trailing names like Viktor Hovland and Justin Thomas. "My entire career I've held the top 10 players as my benchmark of what do I need to do to improve? What are the top 10 guys doing that I'm not? How do I work on my game? What areas of my game need improvement to get there?" he said.
"That being said, I'm the worst player in the top 10 right now, so I've got a long ways to go. I've got to play some really good golf to keep up with those guys. I also don't have the 10th-best resume on the PGA Tour. I still have a lot I want to do and accomplish in this game. But it was really validating to see that number, and maybe a good week here, we can keep improving it."
And as for the proximity to his first PGA Tour win — both scenic towns along the coast — McNealy said he might have to take action due to his results. "I think I need to buy a house on the water because I play pretty well when I can see the ocean: Torrey Pines, here, Sea Island, even Hawaii," he said. "I don't know, I think sea level golf is something I grew up doing. I was just familiar with that heavy wind. I really do love it here. This is one of my favorite places to go, golf aside, on Tour. So I have a lot of fun when I come here."
McNealy's journey to the top 10 has been anything but straightforward. He has faced challenges, including a shoulder injury that sidelined him and a struggle to find his footing on the PGA Tour. Despite these setbacks, his determination has shone through, particularly in recent tournaments. He finished tied for 32nd at the Masters last week, a performance that marked just the third time he made the cut at a major in nine appearances. This is a notable feat considering he made his major debut back in 2014 at the U.S. Open.
In the lead-up to the RBC Heritage, McNealy has been on a roll, finishing second at the Genesis Invitational just a few months ago, one shot behind winner Ludvig Aberg. He also claimed a tie for third at the Valero Texas Open earlier this month, which was won by former Open champion Brian Harman. These consistent results have propelled him into the top 10, a place he has aspired to reach throughout his career.
Reflecting on his ranking, McNealy stated, "Actually, I don't feel like a different player. I feel like a different player every time I come back to a tournament, though. I feel very different than the last time I was here. That's the cool thing about this schedule is every year you come back and get those memories of where you were last time, how you were feeling, how you were playing. This hole looks wider, this hole looks narrower based on how you're hitting it."
As the RBC Heritage progresses, McNealy is focused on the task at hand, determined to make the most of his opportunity. With the final round approaching, he remains two shots off the lead and knows that a strong performance could catapult him even further up the rankings. The excitement is palpable as fans and fellow competitors alike watch to see if McNealy can clinch his second PGA Tour victory and solidify his place among the elite players in the game.
In the world of golf, where every stroke counts, McNealy's story is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of excellence. As he prepares for the final round, one thing is clear: Maverick McNealy is a player to watch, and the best may be yet to come.
