Florida resident George McNeill is set to make his PGA Tour Champions debut at the Chubb Classic in Naples. The 50-year-old golfer has prepared for 18 months to return to a full schedule near his Southwest Florida home. The event features a strong field including past champions and major winners.
George McNeill, a Fort Myers resident who turned 50 last October, will tee off in his first PGA Tour Champions event at the 39th annual Chubb Classic at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples. This marks his return to competitive golf after an 18-month preparation period focused on rebuilding his game and fitness.
The tournament includes 78 players vying for a $1.8 million purse over 54 holes. Notable competitors include World Golf Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer, a five-time Chubb winner, former World No. 1s David Duval and Tom Lehman, major champions Angel Cabrera, Mark Calcavecchia, Darren Clarke, and David Toms, and past Chubb victors such as Stephen Ames (2024), Scott Parel (2020), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2019), Joe Durant (2018), Lee Janzen (2015), Kirk Triplett (2014), and Kenny Perry (2012). Defending champion Justin Leonard also returns.
McNeill, a 1993 North Fort Myers High School graduate and former standout at Florida State, had a solid PGA Tour career with 324 starts, 21 top-10 finishes, and two wins: the 2007 Frys.com Open and the 2012 Puerto Rico Open. To prepare, he competed in 13 PGA and Korn Ferry Tour events in 2025, his busiest year in five.
"It's awesome. Everybody has been more than welcoming, especially the guys that I haven't seen in a long time," McNeill said. "I feel like I'm back at home almost."
He views the Chubb as the start of a potential long Champions career. "I've been looking forward to this for a while, and I've tried to prep my game and my body and everything else for this tournament," he added. McNeill has limited experience at Tiburon's Black Course, having played it a handful of times, including in the 2009 Shark Shootout with former Florida State teammate Jeff Sluman.
Despite the excitement of playing near home with family and friends in attendance, McNeill emphasized focus once competition begins. "Once I get inside the ropes, that's my office, my area of expertise," he said.
