“Neither of them were playing great” – PGA Tour debutant MATT McCarty reflects on playing alongside pros after watching them on TV

PGA Tour debutante Matt McCarty reflected on his experience playing with pros at the Black Desert Championship this week, after the first round, at Black Desert Golf Course. This tournament marked the PGA Tour's return to Utah after 1963.

Matt McCarty stands in second place after the first round and is tied with Henrik Norlander. He joined a press conference on Friday and revealed his feelings playing with those who "have so much experience", via ASAP Sports.

“Yeah, I think -- I got paired with Harris English and Kuch last week. It was very helpful. Obviously, they have so much experience and success out here. It was just helpful seeing them. Neither of them were playing great, but just kind of seeing that level of golf and knowing that I can do the same thing and kind of observing that was helpful,” McCarty said.

He continued, “But yeah, I think that's the thing, too, is spending three years on the Korn Ferry, I came out here -- I came out to Sanderson, and this week it seems like I know a third of the guys just kind of from playing with them the last few years. It's kind of similar but a little different for sure, but that's definitely kind of makes it feel a little bit more normal for me, I think.”

Matt McCarty’s score on the Black Desert Championship leaderboard is 9 under after he shot seven birdies and one eagle in the first round to settle the score at 62. He also played another PGA Tour event in 2024 before this.

How did Matt McCarty perform in his 2024 season?

Matt McCarty played the Sanderson Farms Championship before the Black Desert Championship on the PGA Tour and landed at T63. He won three tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour, including the Price Cutter Charity Champ pres. by Dr Pepper, the Pinnacle Bank Championship pres. by Woodhouse, and the Albertsons Boise Open pres. by Chevron. Here's the entire list of Matt McCarty's 2024 performances:

2024 PGA Tour tournaments

• Sanderson Farms Championship: T63, 8 under 280
• Black Desert Championship: T2 ( Currently playing in this event and has completed the first round)

2024 Korn Ferry Tour events

• Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay: T60, 291 (+3)
• Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club: T27, 288 (E)
• The Panama Championship: T63, 289 (+9)
• Astara Golf Championship: T41, 272 (-11)
• 117 Visa Argentina Open pres. by Macro: T26, 271 (-9)
• Astara Chile Classic pres. by Scotiabank: T3, 272 (-16)
• Club Car Championship at The Landings: Missed cut
• LECOM Suncoast Classic: T30, 271 (-13)
• Veritex Bank Championship: Missed cut
• AdventHealth Championship: T4, 271 (-17)
• Visit Knoxville Open: Missed cut
• UNC Health Championship pres. by STITCH: Missed cut
• BMW Charity Pro-Am pres. by TD SYNNEX: T12, 270 (-15)
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open: T17, 269 (-11)
• Compliance Solutions Championship: T31, 277 (-11)
• Memorial Health Championship pres. by LRS: T20, 267 (-17)
• The Ascendant pres. by Blue: T5, 272 (-16)
• Price Cutter Charity Champ pres. by Dr Pepper: Winner, 263 (-25)
• NV5 Invitational pres. by Old National Bank: T26, 268 (-16)
• Utah Championship: T2, 261 (-23)
• Pinnacle Bank Championship pres. by Woodhouse: Winner, 270 (-14)
• Magnit Championship: T9, 275 (-13)
• Albertsons Boise Open pres. by Chevron: Winner, 263 (-21)
• Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation: T35, 270 (-10)
• Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship: T5, 274 (-10)