ROCHESTER (N.Y.) – Some sponsorship partnerships are just so obvious.
Sam Ryder, the transportation and logistics company Ryder System, Peter Malnati, Malnati’s Pizza, and perhaps best of all Brooke Pancakes and Waffle House, are some of those that come to mind. Maverick McNealy, Ford Motors Co. and other companies are also on the list. The PGA Tour pro announced an agreement with the American automaker that began this week at the PGA Championship in Oak Hill.
McNealy and his brothers, Dakota, Colt, and Scout, are named after American automobiles, as a tribute to their connection with the auto industry.
The family has a long-standing connection to the Detroit auto industry. McNealy’s grandfather was a golf enthusiast and vice chairman at American Motors. McNealy’s father Scott, co-founder at Sun Microsystems claims to have named Maverick Maverick after a Ford sedan. However, his mother Susan, who is also a golfer, says that she named Maverick Maverick in honor of Tom Cruise’s character from the 1986 film “Top Gun.”
Ford Motors signed a deal to endorse Maverick McNealy. Maverick McNealy was named after Ford Maverick. (Darren Reese)
Ford Maverick, the first compact American car, was launched in 1970. The Ford Maverick was designed as an affordable and fuel-efficient vehicle that could compete against the smaller Japanese imports, such as Toyota and Datsun, that were becoming more popular in the U.S. It was produced from 1970 to 1977.
According to Wikipedia the Ford Maverick was named after the unbranded range animal. The car’s plate was stylized to look like the head of a Longhorn cow. Ford Maverick is reborn in 2022 as a compact pick-up truck.
McNealy has only owned two cars throughout his life. He bought a 2021 Ford Explorer SC after earning his PGA Tour card. Peter Webb’s persistent efforts over several years brought the sponsorship agreement with McNealy to fruition.
Webb stated that it was a difficult brand to crack. There were so many layers and agencies involved, but they finally succeeded.
McNealy, as part of this program, will drive selected Ford vehicles in different PGA Tour events, such as this week, where his yellow Ford Mustang stands out like a sore-thumb amongst Cadillacs, the official car of PGA.
McNealy will carry in his pocket a Ford Maverick yardage booklet. There will also be a digital marketing campaign that highlights the Ford vehicles and McNealy’s history with Ford.
McNealy stated, “I have always driven Fords. My whole family has Fords. It’s so cool to be a Ford Ambassador because it could not be more me and what I enjoy driving.”
