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Matt McCarty reflected on his maiden PGA Tour victory in just three starts on the circuit. The American golfer won the inaugural edition of the Black Desert Championship, which concluded on Sunday, 13 October. He registered a three-stroke victory in the game over Stephen Jaeger.
Technically, it was his third start on the PGA Tour, as he had played at the U.S. Open in 2022. However, in regular PGA Tour events, it was just his second start on the circuit.
He had previously competed at the Sanderson Farms Championship, just before joining the field of the Black Desert Championship and tied for 63rd place. Following his victory in Utah, the Scottsdale-born golfer opened up about his first victory on the PGA Tour in an interview with Golf Channel. He said:
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“I don't know how you can kind of expect this, to be honest. I don't know. It's just a lot of fun and I've been working really hard, and this year was great for me out there. To get out here a little early was just like—to get some experience was great and obviously this now. It's just been a crazy last few months for me.”
Notably, McCarty has recently earned his PGA Tour card with the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour 2024 season. He topped the season standings and was awarded his PGA Tour card. Intriguingly, the 26-year-old had a phenomenal start to his career on the Tour, winning his first event in his rookie year on the circuit.
With the victory at the 2024 Black Desert Championship, Matt McCarty has now earned full membership on the PGA Tour until 2026, along with securing his spots in the Masters and PGA Championship. Moreover, he also earned $1,350,000 in prize money and 500 FedEx Cup points.
He moves to 95th place in the FedEx Cup standings, and if McCarty can earn a spot in the top 60 by the end of the 2024 PGA Tour fall season, he will secure his spot in the early two PGA Tour signature events including AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.
"My lag putting I guess helped me"- Matt McCarty on his performance at the 2024 Black Desert Championship
McCarty shot a 4-under 67 in the final round on Sunday to win the PGA Tour event. He started strong with a birdie on the first hole and added another on the seventh, making two on the front nine.
He then shot two more birdies on the back nine, along with an eagle and a bogey, for a round of 67. During the tournament’s press conference, McCarty opened up about his performance and said, via ASAP Sports:
"I don't know, just kind of my lag putting I guess helped me in there. Like one three-putt, but seemed like I was a long ways away all day. Yeah, I don't know. It was good. Hard-fought. A lot of tough pins with the wind picking up."
"Just was able to hit my spots well enough and just hang around and have lot of like stress-free pars I guess, which is nice. Yeah, then make a few birdies when they came. So this was nice. It was a lot of fun. Yeah, pretty surreal moment," he added.
Notably, this was McCarty’s fifth professional win of his career. He had previously won three Korn Ferry Tour events and the 2021 Wyoming State Open. Additionally, this marked his fourth win of the year, as all three of his Korn Ferry Tour victories also came in 2024.
He won the Price Cutter Charity Championship in July, followed by wins at the Pinnacle Bank Championship and the Albertsons Boise Open in August 2024.
