Golf is a strange and humbling game even when you’re doing well. With just one shot, you can go from being a hero to a loser. This was the case with Maverick McNealy at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The American did something that we don’t see very often, especially on the professional circuit.
McNealy was close to the cut line, so he would need a strong finish to make it to the weekend. However, the course at TPC Scottsdale was very hard, so it would be hard to get good scores. At the par-3 12th hole, where the American putted his ball into the water from the green, it looked like that was the case.
The wind had been wreaking havoc on the course all day Friday. The current leader, Scottie Scheffler, saw his ball roll off the green to the right after it landed far to the left of the flag.
The same thing happened to McNealy, whose long putt for a birdie on the 12th hole rolled towards the flag. Downhill and into the wind, the putt was hit cleanly, and just as it looked like it was going to stop, a strong gust pushed it further, making the announcers shout “Oh no, oh wow!” His ball fell into the water that protects the right side of the green.
The 27-year-old put the putter back in the bag and took a drop before getting his wedge. From there, McNealy hit a sharp chip that hit the flag and fell into the hole for a bogey four.
But as if that wasn’t strange enough, just a few minutes later McNealy pulled out of the tournament, saying he had hurt his left shoulder.
The tournament is currently being led by Scottie Scheffler, and World No. 3 Jon Rahm is right behind him. Both men have a chance to pass Rory McIlroy and go to the top of the World Rankings. McIlroy is seven points behind Scheffler, but he still has five holes to play in his second round on Saturday.
