Maverick McNealy leans on brother Scout for more than just caddying

Maverick McNealy didn't earn his first PGA Tour win until his youngest brother, Scout, started toting his bag.

It turns out McNealy's brother is good for more than just caddying, as Maverick revealed that Scout officiated his wedding back in 2023.

"Maya and I got married last Dec. 6," Maverick McNealy said Tuesday ahead of The Sentry this week in Kapalua, Hawaii. "It was just the two of us, our parents, photographer and officiant. We decided we wanted to get married before we could plan a party. Planned the party for the one-year anniversary. And had -- actually Scout officiated, which was cool."

So it's a family affair as Maverick McNealy embarks on the 2025 PGA Tour campaign with the limited-field season opener beginning on Thursday.

Maverick McNealy only qualified for this event by winning the RSM Classic by one stroke in November. The victory came just a few months after Scout McNealy, the youngest of four brothers, began working as Maverick's caddie.

"Well, for one, Scout was right in between jobs, the timing worked out perfect," Maverick McNealy explained Tuesday. "And ... he's kind of the brother I go to with golf stuff. I'm the oldest of four. If I really want to get in deep philosophical challenging intellectual questions I go to Colt. If it's family stuff, kind of more of the intuitive side, it's Dakota. If it's golf, it's Scout. He's probably the best player out of the four of us and had some shoulder injuries and played high-level collegiate golf, and so that's probably why I went with him."

Maverick McNealy said his wife and brother challenged him when he would complain how difficult it was to win on the PGA Tour.

"I just felt like the progression is you get your (PGA Tour) card, you keep your card, you start making a bunch of cuts, and then you start finishing in the top 10, start playing in the final group, couple chances to win and then you win," he said. "(Scout) says, ‘There's no reason why you can't win any given week.' I tend to think pretty linearly, and he's just like, ‘Just go set your sights high.'"

Now up to No. 30 in the world rankings, Maverick McNealy gets to play The Sentry for the first time thanks to his RSM Classic victory.

"It's the first time I've done it, and definitely hope it's not the last," Maverick McNealy said. "Everyone who has ever told me about this tournament says, ‘Once you play here once you're never going to want to miss it.' And I can see why, it's pretty awesome."

--Field Level Media