Quirky first day of WGC-Match Play features romp by Maverick McNealy, the last man in after late WD

Maverick McNealy was at home in Las Vegas last week clinging to hope he would get into the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.

After traveling to Texas on Sunday in case he would get in, McNealy got a call Monday night that he was in when Sam Burns, who won last week’s Valspar Invitational, withdrew.

Then McNealy made quick work of Joaquin Niemann in Wednesday’s opening round of pool play at Austin Country Club. McNealy won five of the first seven holes and closed out Niemann, who won the Genesis Invitational earlier this year, on the 12^th hole. The 8 and 6 win matched the largest margin of victory in a match since the event moved to Austin in 2016.