FORT MYERS, Florida – At last count there were eight professional golf tours in action last weekend ranging from LIV Golf Hong Kong, the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and alternate event Puerto Rico Open, Korn Ferry Tour played in Chile, LPGA competed in China, Epson Tour, DB World Tour teed off in South Africa and, my favorite, the Champions Tour held its third event of the year – the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational – at The Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Florida.
With the 2026 schedule still early, let’s fast forward to one of golf’s most intriquing stories of the year so far. Talk about living the dream, how about 50-year old George McNeill.
In October he turned the big FIVE-ZERO and played in his first Champions Tour event February 13-15 at the Chubb Classic and finished T-5. Today, the newly minted senior citizen could not be happier with the results from his game on the fairways and greens after his second Champions Tour tournament.
McNeill, a popular and well-known Naples-native, fired rounds of 68-69-72 (209) 7-under par total to finish T-2 and earn a pay check for $176,000 from the $2.2 million purse. Zach Johnson, who turned 50 two weeks ago, posted 11-under par total to become the 22nd player to win his debut on the senior circuit. Stewart Cink was also T-2.
McNeill shared his thoughts after signing his card for the final round even par 72 that included 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey.
“I’m extremely happy with my finishes these first two weeks and obviously it builds momentum for the rest of the year,” said McNeill, who won twice as a PGA Tour member. “I’m pretty sure this qualifies me for the next event in Tucson. I was not in before so that will get me in there, which is great and look forward to that. Then hopefully just continue on. And, also some majors, too like the PGA and U.S. Open. Good things are happening, but it’s because of good play.”
McNeill had an interesting decision to make before teeing off this week. He is past winner of the Puerto Rico Open in 2012 and eligible to compete in the PGA Tour’s alternate event featuring a purse of $4 million. He made the right decision and he remains committed to seeking fame and fortune on Champions Tour like notables before him Bruce Fleisher (17 wins), Allen Doyle and Dana Quigley (11 wins) who had inglorious PGA Tour careers, and parlayed playing pro golf beyond 50 into what dreams are made of.
“I would have been first alternate (in Puerto Rico),” McNeill explained, who had 324 career starts on the PGA Tour and posted 21 top 10 finishes and two victories. “They called me, the Tour called me on Monday, they said you’re third alternate. I said, you can just withdraw me because I’m in here. Then I happened to look where I stood on the list and the last player in the field was still the last player in the field. So I would have been moved up to first, I still wouldn’t have gotten in. Anyway, no, I did not consider playing Puerto Rico. I love that tournament. Obviously I’m past champion there and I’ve had some good finishes there, but I feel like I’m destined and I enjoy being out here and I’m very much looking forward to playing, hopefully having a long career out here.”
The next Champions Tour event is Cologuard Classic March 20-22 in Tucson (AZ) and the first major – Senior PGA Championship – is booked April 16-19 in Bradenton (FL).
https://www.pgatour.com/player/24490/george-mcneill
