McNeill has shot at first victory
It’s rare for George McNeill to see his name atop a PGA Tour leaderboard. Usually he is struggling just to make the cut.
But the 32-year-old pro from Fort Myers, Fla., whose best career finish is third place, has a chance to reach the winner’s circle for the first time.
McNeill posted an impressive 7-under-par 64 Friday at TPC at The Canyons to join Garrett Willis and D.J. Trahan in a three-way tie for the lead in the Frys.com Open at 13-under-par 130 after two rounds.
Willis shot a magnificent 10-under 62 at TPC Summerlin, and Trahan fired a 6-under 65 at The Canyons. Jason Gore and John Huston are a shot back at 12-under 131. Bob May, the first-round leader, struggled with a 1-under 70 at The Canyons and dropped to a tie for seventh at 133.
“I didn’t know I was tied for the lead because there are no scoreboards at The Canyons,” McNeill said. “But I knew I was close when everyone started taking pictures. That was a good thing.”
Professional golf has been a long, tough grind for McNeill. He was struggling so badly, he took six months off from playing in 2005 to work at a golf shop. Then he had to go through the rigors of qualifying school last year to try to regain his Tour privileges.
“I’m not an indoors kind of guy,” McNeill said, explaining the need to scratch his competitive itch.
He was the Q-School medalist, and he has played in 27 events this year. McNeill overhauled his swing and has finished as high as a tie for third at the Canadian Open in late July. That was worth $290,000, helping boost McNeill to 122nd on the money list.
Needing to make the top 125 to retain his PGA Tour card, the fact that McNeill is in contention in Las Vegas is rocket fuel for his hopes of making the exempt list.
“I just want to enjoy the moment and take advantage of this opportunity,” McNeill said, knowing he’s on the verge of something special if he can play well through the weekend. “I don’t let too much bother me and I don’t get too excited.”
Co-leader Willis had some excitable moments Friday morning when he found himself running late. Proving he’s from out of town, Willis figured he could just roll out of bed at the Palms, jump in his car and cruise into TPC Summerlin in 15 minutes.
He had no idea that traffic in Las Vegas on a Friday starts backing up before 5:45 a.m., the same time Willis was on the freeway trying to reach the course. He had to hustle to make his 7:10 a.m. tee time, getting there about 70 minutes before his scheduled tee-off.
“I’m usually at the course an hour and a half before my tee time,” Willis said. “I was cutting it kinda close.”
Call it his “Welcome to Vegas Moment.”
Maybe Willis should stick to his new routine. He dominated the second round, carding nine birdies and an eagle.
“When you have a 7:10 tee time and you’re staying in Vegas, it’s tough to get to bed at a decent hour,” Willis said. “We just got a little late start leaving the hotel. I didn’t realize there’s so much traffic here.”
With the final two rounds at TPC Summerlin on the weekend, Willis should reach the course in plenty of time, and he figures to put up a low number. That is, if he can avoid the roller-coaster ride his game seems to take on every week.
“I learned a pretty good lesson in Milwaukee,” he said, referring to his collapse at the U.S. Bank Championship in late July; he was two shots out back after two rounds, then fell out of contention with a third-round 75. “I was in a similar position where I was in the next-to-last group and I went out and played a little too aggressive. My plan here is to try to go out and hit fairways and greens.”
Trahan conquered the windy conditions in the afternoon at The Canyons, carding birdies at Nos. 15 and 16 (he started on the back nine) and at Nos. 4 and 5.
“It was blowing pretty good from the sixth hole on,” said Trahan, who played a bogey-free round and had six birdies. “I was just trying to take what the course gave me and not get ahead of myself and press.”
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.
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