Since lacking the minimize in his first two begins of the FedEx Cup Fall, Maverick McNealy has performed high-level golf. He completed T-16 on the Shriners, T-6 on the World Extensive Know-how and T-17 on the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Now, he’s 18 holes away from claiming his first PGA Tour win at The RSM Basic.
McNealy signed for a 4-under 66 on Saturday, ok to earn him a share of the 54-hole lead alongside Vince Whaley — we’ll get to him in a minute.
The previous Stanford star made two bogeys on his entrance 9, however cancelled them out after which some with three birdies to make the flip at 1 underneath. Over his ultimate 9 holes, McNealy poured in three birdies, together with this magnificence on the par-3 seventeenth.
Maverick McNealy ties the lead with a wonderful birdie putt on 17. 💪
McNealy has lengthy been probably the greatest putters on the earth, so to see him at fifth in Strokes Gained: Placing by means of three rounds isn’t sudden. However the putter isn’t the one factor clicking for McNealy this week. The 29-year-old is ranked twenty first in SG: Off the Tee, fourth in SG: Method and twenty second in SG: Across the Inexperienced.
The 67th-ranked participant on the earth has completed runner-up twice in his profession. We’ll see if he can lastly get it over the end line on Sunday.
In case you missed any of Saturday’s motion, no worries, we’ve you coated. Listed here are some notes from Day 3 at Sea Island Golf Membership.
RSM Basic: Leaderboard | Pictures
Notes from third spherical of RSM Basic
Vince Whaley tied for the lead
Vince Whaley of the USA performs his shot from the third tee in the course of the third spherical of The RSM Basic 2024 on the Seaside course at Sea Island Resort on November 23, 2024 in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
Whaley grabbed a share of fifth eventually week’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, and eventually yr’s RSM, he tied for thirteenth. So considering kind and event historical past, it’s not an enormous shock to see Whaley on the high of the leaderboard with 18 holes to play.
He shot 67-68 over the primary two days, however turned it to a different degree on Saturday with a 7-under 63.
The 29-year-old from Kentucky made 4 birdies on the entrance 9 and three extra on the again, whereas retaining squares off the cardboard. In reality, he’s solely made three bogeys by means of 54 holes.
“Yeah, it feels awesome,” Whaley mentioned when requested the way it feels to be tied for the lead. “I’ve obviously played some good golf to this point, so just excited for the opportunity.”
📺: GOLF Channel pic.twitter.com/jAVkca0Mvh
Daniel Berger is vibin’
Daniel Berger of the USA acknowledges the gang on the twelfth inexperienced in the course of the third spherical of The RSM Basic 2024 on the Seaside course at Sea Island Resort on November 23, 2024 in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Picture by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos)
Berger, as soon as ranked twelfth on the earth, continues to be making his method again from an harm that stored him sidelined for 19 months. He’s seen some blended outcomes this yr — 16 made cuts in 24 earlier begins — however because of a third-round 7-under 63, he’s in place to win for the primary time since 2021 — AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am — and fifth time general.
Berger made 4 birdies in a six-hole stretch on his entrance 9 to make the flip with a 4-under 31. On his method residence, the 31-year-old sandwiched a bogey on 14 with birdies on Nos. 12, 13, and 15 earlier than including one other on 18 to shut out his day.
“I hit it in the fairway, I hit it on the green and I made a lot of putts today, so that’s a recipe for a good score,” Berger mentioned.
He entered the week No. 127 within the FedEx Cup, so a stable ultimate spherical ought to transfer him safely inside the highest 125.
However a win would care for that and complete lot extra.
High 10 and odds to win
Place
Participant
Rating
Odds to win
T-1
Vince Whaley
14 underneath
(+360)
T-1
Maverick McNealy
14 underneath
(+240)
T-3
Daniel Berger
12 underneath
(+850)
T-3
Mackenzie Hughes
12 underneath
(+650)
T-3
Michael Thorbjornsen
12 underneath
(+750)
T-3
Patrick Fishburn
12 underneath
(+900)
T-7
Luke Clanton
11 underneath
(+900)
T-7
Lee Hodges
11 underneath
(+2500)
T-9
Nico Echavarria
10 underneath
(+4500)
T-9
Michael Kim
10 underneath
(+4500)
