- Slug: Sports–Phoenix Open McCarty, 900 words.
- Photo available.
By Tucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News
SCOTTSDALE – Matt McCarty carried standards at the WM Phoenix Open as a high school student. After taking an unorthodox route to the PGA Tour in 2024, the 2025 WM Phoenix Open marks McCarty’s ninth tour start, in his hometown of Scottsdale no less.
“Really excited, and obviously growing up here, (I) know the course really well,” McCarty, a Scottsdale native, said Wednesday.
After an up-and-down front nine, McCarty finished strong in Thursday’s opening round, posting birdies on three of his last five holes to finish 1-over.
The Desert Mountain High School graduate appeared on the PGA Tour in January 2024 at the highly exclusive Sentry Open in Hawaii. To play at the Sentry, PGA Tour golfers must be victorious in a tour event or finish in the top 50 of the FedExCup points list the previous season. McCarty, however, showed up because he won a three-victory promotion from the Korn Ferry Tour, which resulted in an automatic promotion to the PGA.
Fast forward a little over a year, McCarty might as well be playing in his backyard. He reflected on how surreal the experience has been so far.
“I’m not crazy removed from … wanting golf balls and gloves and whatever,” McCarty said. “So anytime I can do that and see a smile on (a kid’s face), it’s really cool for sure.”
As a young standard-bearer, McCarty dreamed of walking into the thunderdome that is the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open as a player. The experience this week has been different than what the 27-year-old is used to at the tournament.
“It’ll be kind of different coming out here and not having a bunch of beers on the weekend and everything,” he said. “This was like our local tournament, so I just thought golf was kind of always like this. That fun atmosphere, I think is great for the game, honestly, so just really excited to be here.”
His mother, Deanna, said that his role at the 2025 WM Phoenix Open was preferable to when he was a college kid drinking in the crowd.
He even admitted he was not innocent of one of the worst sins a fan can commit at the WM Phoenix Open: sneaking onto 16.
McCarty’s appearance at his local tournament has come with some extra requirements, particularly about ticket requests.
“There were quite a few,” he said. “The Tour took good care of me, though, so we got enough for everybody and it’ll be nice to have a lot of people on my side and make a bunch of birdies and get everybody going.”
To achieve that goal of making a bunch of birdies, McCarty is trying to take advantage of his knowledge of the course, but the jump from the Korn Ferry to the PGA has some challenges.
“Definitely a little bit longer, more demanding off the tee, a little firmer for sure,” he said when comparing events on both tours. “You don’t have to shoot 7-(under), 8- every day, which is nice, but it’s a lot harder to shoot 3- or 4-.”
Changes to McCarty’s life haven’t just been on the golf course since joining the tour full time either. When asked to name the best perk he’s received so far, he offered an unusual answer.
“I think the courtesy car every week, just showing up from the airport and not having to wait in line at Avis compared to the Korn Ferry has been pretty nice,” he said.
McCarty is enjoying the moment, best showcased by a blink-and you-miss it moment on the first hole during his Thursday round. McCarty, moments after hitting his approach shot short of the green, cracked a smile and even a chuckle. A group of college-age fans yelled, “Hey Matt, we snuck onto the 16th hole for you!”
McCarty’s round was up and down, but chants from his large group of friends and family in lock-step with his group seemed to keep his spirit high. The other members of his group included 2023 US Open Champion Wyndham Clark and World Golf Ranking No. 31, Akshay Bhatia.
One of McCarty’s highlight reel moments came on No. 3. After a tee shot launched into the desert, McCarty drilled a 41-foot birdie putt. After nine holes, McCarty sat at 2-over. The other was a save after hitting it in the water on No. 15. He followed it up by chipping in for birdie.
“I don’t really hit in the water that much but it was nice to get that and save some momentum for the rest of the round,” McCarty said following the round.
McCarty’s dream he spoke of Wednesday came true as the sun went down late in the afternoon Thursday. He took the 16th tee box in front of a still packed crowd. For his family, there was really one way to describe the moment.
“It’s just surreal at 16, to be on the grass and walk through that,” Deanna McCarty said.
Matt nearly sunk a birdie putt but just missed. Nonetheless, the moment was incredible for the young golfer.
One of those supporters sifting through the crowds to watch McCarty was Bob Loguidice, a longtime family friend of the McCarty clan. Loguidice was happy to be there but not surprised.
“Well, I met (McCarty) him when he used to play golf with us when he was 9 or 10 years old,” Loguidice said. “He was good then.”
Many members of the McCarty family sported visors and hats that read “McCarty Par-Tee” and stuck with Matt throughout his debut round at the WM Phoenix Open.
The members of the McCarty family claimed there were upwards of 200 people following Matt throughout his opening round.
“I think he sees all those familiar faces and he really appreciates that,” Matt’s dad Scott McCarty said.
A moment lost through the many memorable ones of the day was the golfer taking a moment to acknowledge his roots. Before leaving the 18th green, McCarty stopped to exchange pleasantries with the standard bearer crew of the round. Talk about full circle.
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
