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Golf Star Maverick McNealy Takes Unique Route to Torrey Pines

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Curran | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 3:50 PM ET

Typically, the PGA Tour's biggest stars arrive at the course for tournaments in a big, luxury SUV and it doesn't make very many headlines. Scottie Scheffler's incident at last year's PGA Championship is the exception, not the norm.

However, the golf world took notice on Thursday afternoon when world No. 26 Maverick McNealy took a unique mode of transportation to get to his opening round at the Genesis Invitational. The Las Vegas, Nev., resident has his pilot's license and took advantage of it, arriving for this week's tournament at Torrey Pines in style.

Maverick McNealy flew himself to Torrey Pines this week. ✈️

[Insert Top Gun puns] pic.twitter.com/ymuIK3ZlnO
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) February 13, 2025

McNealy previously said in a video posted by the PGA TOUR on X, "The reason I love flying is the reason why I love golf. It’s because you’re always learning and there’s always room for improvement. And it’s one of those things where the more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know.”

McNealy, currently ranked No. 25 in the FedExCup Standings, is off to a strong start this season, making the cut in all five events he has played and finishing in the top 10 twice, including a top-six finish last week at the WM Phoenix Open. He has one career win on the PGA TOUR, which came last season at The RSM Classic.

McNealy is playing the first two rounds this week with Harris English and Nick Taylor. Entering play on Thursday, McNealy's odds to win the tournament were set at +6000.

The Genesis Invitational is typically played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., but was relocated to Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif., due to the devastating wildfires that recently tore through the Los Angeles area, including Pacific Palisades.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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