CHUBB CLASSIC PRESENTED BY SERVPRO

February 15, 2026

George McNeill

Tiburón Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, now joined by George McNeill. Closed with a 68, including a couple birdies on the final few holes. Thoughts on your round today specifically?

GEORGE McNEILL: I played nice. Hit some good shots. Hit a few loose ones. Putting was tough I think most of the day just because of the wind obviously. Greens were drying out and they were getting a little quick and firm, so you had to really pay attention to where you hit your shots and landing the ball and everything.

I kept the ball in front of me which is obviously always good on any golf course. Doesn't matter if it's hard or soft or whatever. But out here you got to keep the ball in play and in the fairway.

Overall I felt like I did all those things and made a couple -- I made a pretty long putt on 16, par-3, and then birdie 18 to finish it off, which was nice.

Q. First Champions TOUR event in the books. How much fun was it being out there this week?

GEORGE McNEILL: I mean, it's a ton of fun. Obviously still very competitive. A lot of great players as you can see from the leaderboard.

But just getting my feet wet here in Naples where I was born, it almost kind of is like a storybook start for me. A win would've been fantastic, but just to get started, get going, get back in competition and back into competitive golf.

Last tournament I played was RSM on the PGA TOUR last fall, so getting back into it and proving to myself that I can still play a little bit, and like I said, keeping the ball in front of me and moving along and doing a lot of good things.

Few loose things but I can improve on those in Boca.

Q. I just wanted to ask you about starting your career on the Senior Tour. Three birdies on the first day. Ended up the with a birdie. Would you say you exceeded your expectations for the weekend?

GEORGE McNEILL: I don't know if I exceeded them. I don't want to say I was pretty confident coming in here, but I felt good about the way I was playing. I've been practicing and playing a bunch at home and also last year to get into competitive golf again.

You know, the golf is -- when you get inside the ropes it's all the same. You've still got to get the ball in the hole as fast as you can. As a buddy of mine says, it's a math contest. If you can shoot low scores you're going to be all right.

Q. You did a lot of work to get here. Last year you played in 13 PGA and Korn Ferry to prep for this, is that correct?

GEORGE McNEILL: Correct, yeah. Yeah.

Q. And it's paying off or time will tell?

GEORGE McNEILL: I think it is. I think it is paying off. Now I'm starting a new career on a new tour and a lot of new golf courses which I haven't seen before; Boca will be one in a couple weeks, and, you know, hopefully beyond that.

But a lot of golf courses I haven't seen, so going to be a lot of prep getting out, playing practice rounds, scouting golf courses and stuff.

So I mean, I'm a rookie again, so I'm going to have to prep and play like a rookie. I'm going to try and take that --

Q. Another quick question. So your comfort level, didn't take you long to get into the feel again obviously with the three birdies Friday. The comfort level inside the ropes, did that show up a lot this weekend?

GEORGE McNEILL: I mean, I was comfortable, but at the same time I was still nervous, still anxious, a little excited. It was really foggy early Friday morning, so there was a lot of outside factors that I was dealing with, too.

But to make three birdies in a row to start the tournament was fantastic.

Q. There are majors coming up. You mentioned the Senior PGA further up in Florida. If you looked at a really nice schedule that you wanted to put together, can you name a few of those major tournaments that you would like to play in?

GEORGE McNEILL: I just know the Senior PGA is coming up in Sarasota at Concession. The U.S. Senior Open is at Scioto in July I believe. I would love to play in that one and the Senior British, which is at Gleneagles. Based only my wins on the tour I guess the first year you turn 50 you get in that one, so I'll be planning on playing that one.

I know there is another one. I can't remember which ones.

Q. Two others. Firestone and Birmingham, Alabama.

GEORGE McNEILL: Yeah, which I've never played either of those golf courses.

Q. If you're eligible you will definitely play in those?

GEORGE McNEILL: If I'm eligible I'm going to play every tournament I can. I plan on playing every single tournament I get in.

Q. Next one is at Boca?

GEORGE McNEILL: In Boca, the James Hardy in a couple weeks.