Matt McCarty’s Black Desert victory makes him golf’s newest Cinderella
Join the Club by John Patrick
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Odds are, you’ve never heard of the golfer who won last week on the PGA Tour. His name is Matt McCarty.
McCarty played most of the 2024 season on the PGA’s developmental circuit, the Korn Ferry Tour. He won three Korn Ferry tournaments this season, which qualified him for what used to be referred to as the “battlefield promotion.” Three wins on that tour and you automatically qualify for the PGA Tour. It’s the first time someone has accomplished that in eight years. It doesn’t mean you’re in the premiere events. You’re not even really assured of getting into many events, but that’s what this time of the year is all about.
It’s a tough time of the year for the PGA Tour. The big names are either taking some time off or playing the final events on the DP World Tour. There’s also competition from the NFL, college football, the Major League baseball playoffs and World Series. It’s tough for the PGA Tour to get any traction.
So, the PGA uses this time of the year for a series of tournaments that can – and will – set up lesser-known players for potential future success. Although somewhat forgettable for the average golf fan, it can mean a world of difference for the players that play and win.
Which brings us back to Matt McCarty.
This week’s tournament, the Black Desert Championship, was the tour’s first foray into Utah. It was McCarty’s second event as a Tour member and third PGA Tour event in his career.
By being the top player on the Korn Ferry Tour, he is assured a spot in the 2025 Players Championship and the 2025 US Open. With this victory, he will also now be in Maui for the season-opening Sentry Championship and he will be here in Augusta, in April, for the Masters. The victory also brought with it over $1.3 million dollars and extends his tour membership through the end of the 2026 season.
Forgettable for the casual fan, but life changing for Mr. McCarty.
The truth is, there are stories – wonderful stories – happening during this time of the year on the PGA Tour. I’ll bet we’re in for another this week as the Tour heads to Las Vegas.