Maverick McNealy on setting up his game, getting his head right and what he’ll play driving up Magnolia Drive.
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MaverickMcNealyisreadyforhisMastersmoment.(JonathanBachman/GettyImages)JonathanBachmanviaGettyImagesThistimelastyear,MaverickMcNealywasranked102ndintheworld,apromisingplayeronaTourfullofthem.Hehadn’tyetwononthePGATour,andashewatchedScottieSchefflerwinanothergreenjacket,hemadehimselfavow:GettoAugustanextyear.
“TheMasterslastyearwasatoughoneformetowatchbecauseIwantedsobadlytobethere,”McNealytoldYahooSportsthisweek.“It’salwaysoneofmyfavoritetournamentstowatch,anditjustreallybuggedmethatIdidn’thaveateetime.”
SoMcNealydidwhateverygood2020s-eragolferdoes:huddledwithhisteamatthestartofthefallseasonandmadeaplan.Theirgoals:Getintothetop60toqualifyforthePebbleBeachPro-AmandtheGenesisInvitational;getintothetop50toqualifyfortheMasters;andgetintotheSentryatKapaluabywinningatournament.
Thefallwasdecentbutnotspectacular,andMcNealy’scarefullylaidplanswerecomingapart.Withonetourn
