ORLANDO, Fla. –– Last year during the Palmer Cup, Stanford’s Maverick McNealy was chosen to speak on behalf of the U.S. team at the opening banquet.
No pressure, right? Well, considering the speech was addressed to golf legend Arnold Palmer, it wasn’t exactly an easy one.
“I didn't want to mess that one up,” McNealy said.
Easily one of the highlights of his golf career, McNealy one-upped that experience Thursday at Bay Hill. Not only did the 20-year-old amateur fire a 3-under 69 in the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he did it with “The King” watching the last half of his round as he played alongside teenager Ryan Ruffels and Sam Saunders, Palmer’s grandson.