PGA Tour star linked to controversies has clear feelings on golfer set to inherit billions

Irish Daily Star

21-04-2025

Lucas Glover has
praised rival Maverick McNealy
as arguably the most intelligent player on the PGA Tour – aside from himself. The 2009 US Open champion has faced criticism from peers and
golf
figures for his views, but McNealy appears to have the veteran's seal of approval.
Glover's opinions have
led to clashes with other pros
and even the inventor of the AimPoint system after critiquing the method that's exploded in popularity in recent years. He has also criticized the PGA for reducing field sizes at certain tournaments, implying the Tour must "think we're stupid."
However, when it comes to McNealy, Glover only has positive things to say. And it reflects well on a rising stud whose future looks assured irrespective of what he accomplishes on the golf course.
"Maverick McNealy, probably," said Glover on the 5 Clubs podcast (via
The Mirror US
) when asked whom he thinks is the most well-read player on the Tour. "He's an intelligent, understated young man, and his ideas and wisdom are starting to come out a little bit."
This praise comes from a golfer who has made his share of headlines for his conflicts in recent times. Stanford-educated McNealy – who secured 29th place in his
Masters
debut earlier in April – can take comfort in knowing he has the respect of his fellow American.
Glover, 45, matched his own Masters record when he ended up joint-20th at Augusta last year, but he failed to make the cut this year. He then tied for 61st at the RBC Heritage in his home state of South Carolina on Sunday.
The Clemson University graduate stirred things up in early 2025 when he criticized AimPoint as a disruptor to golf. The technique involves players stepping on greens to sense any changes in tilt or direction.
However, Glover doesn't believe it improve putting enough and should be banned, especially in an era where pace of play is such a hot topic. And he shared as much on his eponymous SiriusXM Radio show earlier this year.
"Statistically, [AimPoint] hasn't helped anybody make more putts since its inception on the PGA Tour," he said at the time. "It's also kind of rude to be up near the hole, stomping around figuring out where the break is in your feet. It needs to be banned. It takes forever."
AimPoint inventor Mark Sweeney told
bunkered.co.uk
he found Glover's remarks to be "malicious" and called on him to retract them. Meanwhile, two-time major winner Collin Morikawa – who uses the AimPoint approach to his putting – humorously suggested long putters (like the ones Glover uses) should also be banned if that were the case.
McNealy's father is understood to be worth in excess of $1billion
(Image: Getty)
McNealy, 29, recently climbed to 10th in the OWGR rankings for the first time in his career. But despite this, he won over fans with his self-awareness after labeling himself "the worst player" in the group.
This was a refreshing display of perspective from a man who seems to have a secure future regardless of how his golf career unfolds. McNealy's father, Scott, is believed to have a personal net worth of approximately $1 billion, although his actual inheritance could be significantly larger.
Scott was part of the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 1980s and co-founded Sun Microsystems, which was sold for $7.4BN in 2010. He has since been involved in several start-ups and served as an advisor for companies like Wayin, 18Birdies, and software firm Redis Labs.
After making his PGA Tour debut in the 2019/20 season, Korn Ferry Tour graduate McNealy Jr is now a fully established talent in his own right. He claimed his first Tour victory at the 134th attempt when he won the RSM Classic in November 2024.
As a licensed pilot, he even flew himself to the Genesis Invitational in La Jolla,
California
, this past February. And if his recent trajectory is anything to go by, McNealy is set to reach even loftier heights in the years to come.