PGA Tour Pro Maverick McNealy Pilots Own Plane to Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines
PGA Tour pro Maverick McNealy demonstrated a unique approach to tournament travel by piloting himself to the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. Having earned his private pilot's license in September 2023 during an injury layoff, McNealy fulfilled his goal of flying to southwestern PGA Tour events.
McNealy sees parallels between flying and golf, noting similarities in decision-making under pressure and environmental awareness. He explained, "You're taking information from a lot of different factors. It's more reactionary than golf, but the same kind of factors you're looking at."
Golfer swings club in white shirt
His career has also taken flight recently, with his first PGA Tour victory at the 2023 RSM Classic and strong performances in 2024, including a T8 at The Sentry and T9 at the WM Phoenix Open. These results have helped him achieve a career-high world ranking of 26th heading into the Genesis Invitational.
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While most Tour professionals rely on commercial or private flights for tournament travel, McNealy's pilot credentials offer him unique flexibility and control over his tournament schedule, particularly for events in the southwestern United States.