MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Maverick McNealy had an American Airlines flight home to Las Vegas on Sunday evening, just like he did two years ago when he ran up against the top-50 bubble at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
In 2024, he arrived in Memphis 59th in points and came up short (53rd) in his quest to advance to the BMW Championship and, more importantly, qualify for the ’25 signature events.
This time he was 50th to start the week and spent most of the final round teetering on the edge of the bubble until he birdied two of his last seven holes to move to 49th on the points list. With his spot at the BMW Championship secured, McNealy canceled his flight home.
“[His brother and caddie] Scout is going to extend his rental car, and we’re going to drive up the river tomorrow morning [to St. Louis, Missouri]. So, I’m very happy to be canceling that flight tonight,” McNealy smiled.
Unlike last year’s volatility, when five players played their way into the top 50 in Memphis, just one player, Sungae Im, managed to climb inside the number, thanks to a fifth-place finish at TPC Southwind. That left Keith Mitchell, who began the week at 49th on the list, on the outside of the top 50 after his tie for 34th.
Mitchell was projected 51st playing the last hole and needed a birdie for any chance, but he was forced to play his second shot shoeless and from the murky pond left of the fairway after his tee shot found the last piece of dry land. His second shot found the same pond when his approach dropped short of the green.
PAIN. 💔😭
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 16, 2026
Keith Mitchell continues fighting to keep his season alive after this shot from the water
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/N5bwHZS9nq
“[No.] 18 tee shot is tough. You’ve got to decide — if I’m way in [the top 50], I can just lay up out to the right and make 5 and be good, but I knew I was one back,” Mitchell said. “We thought it was helping a little bit off the tee, so I absolutely strike my 3-wood. I thought it was perfect when I hit it. Caught a little bit of a gust, and it came up that short.”
Moments after Mitchell’s mishap on No. 18, Jordan Spieth found a water hazard with his tee shot at the 15th hole to end his run for the top 50. He was also clinging to life at 52nd in the projections. Spieth finished tied for 19th in the tournament and outside the top 50 for the third consecutive year.
“I just feel like I’m kind of getting back to playing really good golf, like it’s close to kicking off, and I’m not going to play a tournament for a long time,” Spieth said. “In some ways I feel like I’m leaving some out there, and in some ways it’s a good thing because like I mentioned after the first round, this will be the last time I finish like this for a while. I’m very, very confident in what’s coming.”
