After nearly 5 months away, PGA Tour’s top putter set to return in Cabo

This week’s PGA Tour event in Cabo will mark the comeback of the Tour’s top putter.

Maverick McNealy, who has been the most successful putter this season, will make his first appearance in almost five months at the World Wide Technology Championship. The tournament will take place at El Cardonal at Diamante Cabo San Lucas, a golf course designed by Tiger Woods, in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Last February, McNealy suffered a torn anterior sterno-clavicular ligament in his left shoulder. After missing the cut at the RBC Canadian Open in early June, he decided not to undergo surgery. Instead, he pursued a treatment plan that included physical therapy, biomechanics analysis, golf swing changes, and regenerative stem-cell treatments.

Prior to his injury, McNealy was ranked 26th in FedExCup points, thanks to five top-12 finishes in his first nine starts. However, he had to withdraw from consecutive events at Pebble Beach and Phoenix, which caused him to drop to 86th in points before taking a break.

Although he will likely have a major medical extension available for next season, McNealy currently sits at 121st in points. With strong performances in the final three fall events, including at least two of them, he has the opportunity not only to secure his card for next year but also to potentially move up to the coveted Next 10, which grants a spot in the two main events following The Sentry.

During his time away from the Tour, McNealy focused on obtaining his private pilot instrument rating and also got engaged.

The WWT Championship field also features Cameron Young, Sahith Theegala, and Ludvig Åberg, along with sponsor exemptions Michael Block, Chris Gotterup, and amateur Preston Summerhays, as well as open qualifier Billy Davis.