Maverick McNealy Leads 2021 Fortinet Championship

Maverick McNealy Leads the 2021 Fortinet Championship

 

 

The last few holes of the weekday rounds of the 2021 Fortinet Championship are wrapping up at Silverado Country Club. As it stands heading into the weekend, Maverick McNealy leads the tournament with a score of 12-under and a two shot lead over Beau Hossler and Mito Pereira. 

The cut is also projected to be 3-under.

MCNEALY OFF TO A HOT START

McNealy, starting his third year on tour, opened the tournament on Thursday with a 68, in a round that included five birdies and a bogey. 

This momentum continued to Friday where, the California native carded five birdies on his front nine (actually the back nine as he started on the 10th tee). However, things would turn for the worst on the start of his back nine, where he bogeyed holes 1-3. But to his credit, McNealy did not let this get to him He went on to birdie four straight holes after that, including a hole-out birdie on the par 3 7th hole from the bunker, and finished the day with an eagle on the par 5 9th hole. 

McNealy had his best season on tour last year, including a 2nd place finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a T4 finish at the RBC Heritage. He is still searching for his first PGA Tour win and is in a great position heading into the weekend to do so. 

KUCHAR DOESNT DISAPPOINT WITH NEAR ACE

Just four shots behind McNealy sits Matt Kuchar, PGA Tour veteran and fan favorite. Also starting his day on the back nine, the 43-year old nearly aced the par 3 11th hole (his second hole of the day), after hitting an iron just short of pin high and watching it roll by the hole to four feet, nearly dropping in along the way.

Kuchar would go on to make the four footer for birdie, on his way to a 6-under 66 for the day.

SILVERADO PLAYING WELL FOR PLAYERS

As we mentioned in our preview to the tournament, Silverado Country Club is one of the shorter courses played on tour. Consequently, we are seeing some low scores this week, as a result of players being able to take on holes more aggressively, often times having shorter approaches to greens, compared to other tournaments.

The low round of the tournament was a 64 shot by Maverick McNealy, Beau Hossler and David Lipsky.  

The weather has been a bit cooler but perfect for players at Silverado and is scheduled to continue that way. There is a chance for winds to pick up on Sunday, but nothing too impactful for players.

HOW ARE OUR PICKS DOING?

We're looking for some redemption after our plan last week at the BMW PGA Championship backfired. Here's how our picks are doing so far:

1) Jon Rahm: CUT

2) Kevin Na: CUT

3) Will Zalatoris: T4 at 9-under

Nope. Wow, I really was not expecting Rahm and Na to be cut, especially after the way the ended last season. I suppose this is more concerning for Rahm, who needs to find some form for the Ryder Cup next week. The silver lining is that he'll have more time for prep via not making the cut.

 

And in his first season as an full-status PGA Tour member, "rookie" Will Zalatoris is off to a hot start. Here's hoping Zalatoris can carry this momentum into the weekend.

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Two rounds are left at the 2021 Fortinet Championship. Much can change in two rounds of golf, so stay tuned to see who has won it.

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews