Matt McCarty Facts: 20 Things You Didn't Know About The American Golfer

Discover more about PGA Tour golfer Matt McCarty via these facts regarding his life and pro career so far...

Matt McCarty looks on during the Texas Children's Houston Open in 2025
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Matt McCarty is among the newest crop of PGA Tour golfers who has enjoyed an excellent start to his career via early success. Find out more about the American player courtesy of these facts about his life and career in the game so far...

Matt McCarty Facts

1. McCarty was born on December 11, 1997 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

2. He plays golf left-handed.

3. During his time at Desert Mountain High School, McCarty volunteered for a charity which works with homeless people.

4. As an amateur, McCarty won three times. He claimed the 2014 Arizona Junior Match Play Championship, the 2018 The Farms Invitational, and the 2018 Bayonet Amateur Championship.

5. McCarty attended Santa Clara University between 2016 and 2021, graduating in 2020 with a bachelors degree in finance before going to grad school in 2021 and majoring in marketing.

6. While at Santa Clara, he earned All West Coast Conference honors three times.

7. In 2018, he carded a 10-under round of 61 during the Alister MacKenzie Invitational.

8. McCarty qualified for the 2020 US Amateur and shot an 8-over 151 during stroke play.

9. He turned professional after leaving college in 2021 and initially played on the Forme Tour - a circuit created by the PGA Tour in response to Covid for non-Canadian PGA Tour Canada members.

10. Also in 2021, McCarty won the Wyoming State Open.

11. His Major debut arrived in 2022 at the US Open, but the left-hander missed the cut by one stroke at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts after making bogey at the 36th hole.

12. Between 2022 and 2024, McCarty played on the Korn Ferry Tour and won three times in the space of six weeks.

13. His three Korn Ferry Tour victories in 2024 made him the 13th player since 1997 to earn a PGA Tour card this way. He also topped the Korn Ferry Tour's points list in 2024.

14. McCarty's highest-ever OWGR position is 46th.

15. His personal interests include skiing and watching movies.

16. McCarty made his regular PGA Tour debut at the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship.

17. The left-hander won his first PGA Tour title in just his third-ever start, landing the 2024 Black Desert Championship by three strokes.

Matt McCarty holds up the 2024 Black Desert Championship trophy

Matt McCarty holds up the 2024 Black Desert Championship trophy

(Image credit: Getty Images)

18. McCarty is joint-third in the all-time list of players to secure a PGA Tour win in the fewest starts. Bob Gilder, Seve Ballesteros, and Russell Henley all managed a victory in their third start while Garrick Higgo won on his second start and Jim Benepe triumphed on his PGA Tour debut.

19. Following his Black Desert Championship triumph, McCarty became only the second player ever (Jason Gore, 2005) to win on the PGA Tour in the same season they were promoted.

20. McCarty made his debut at The Masters in 2025 and is also set to play the PGA Championship later in the year as well.

Matt McCarty Bio

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Born

December 11, 1997 - Scottsdale, Arizona

Height

6ft (1.83m)

College

Santa Clara University

Turned Pro

2021

Former Tours

Forme Tour, Korn Ferry Tour

Current Tour

PGA Tour

Pro Wins

5

Highest OWGR

46th

Matt McCarty Pro Wins

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Tour

Event

Winning Score

State Open

2021 Wyoming State Open

-22

Korn Ferry Tour

2024 Price Cutter Charity Championship

-25 (three strokes)

Korn Ferry Tour

2024 Pinnacle Bank Championship

-14 (one stroke)

Korn Ferry Tour

2024 Albertsons Boise Open

-21 (two strokes)

PGA Tour

2024 Black Desert Championship

-23 (three strokes)

Jonny Leighfield
Staff Writer

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.