Matt McCarty Dominates at the 2024 Black Desert Championship
The PGA Tour’s fall season just got a lot more exciting with the introduction of the Black Desert Championship at Black Desert Resort in Utah. With a $7.5 million purse, it’s safe to say the tournament made a big splash, and the standout story was rookie Matt McCarty, who claimed the $1.35 million winner’s check in spectacular fashion.
McCarty, a 26-year-old from Arizona, has been on a dream run since the summer. His rapid success on the Korn Ferry Tour, with three wins in just over a month, earned him a “battlefield promotion” to the PGA Tour. Many rookies take time to find their footing on the Tour, but not McCarty. In just his third PGA start, he stunned the field with a final-round 67 to finish at 23 under par, securing the win by three shots.
McCarty wasn’t the only one turning heads at the Black Desert Championship. Germany’s Stephan Jaeger took home $817,500 after finishing second with a solid 20-under performance. Meanwhile, veterans Lucas Glover and Kevin Streelman tied for third, each pocketing $442,500 with a 19-under finish. The top five was rounded out by Matti Schmid, who claimed $307,500 for his fifth-place finish at 18 under.
Here’s a quick look at how some notable players fared:
- T6: Harris English and Joe Highsmith, 17 under – $262,500
- T8: Nick Hardy, Lee Hodges, Henrik Norlander, 16 under – $234,375
- T11: Ten players finished 15 under, including Seamus Power and Patrick Rodgers, each earning $137,625.
The full leaderboard reveals how competitive this new event was, with several well-known names battling in a tight field.
The Black Desert Championship has quickly become a must-watch event on the Tour. This tournament not only adds excitement to the Fall Series but also gives players a crucial opportunity to solidify their status for the 2025 season. For McCarty, this win means more than just a hefty payday—it locks in his PGA Tour card for next year, ensuring we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in the months to come.
The course itself, nestled within the stunning red-rock landscape of southern Utah, provided the perfect backdrop for the tournament. Players were tested by the resort’s challenging layout, yet McCarty made it look easy, keeping calm under pressure and taking control with his steady play.
McCarty’s victory at Black Desert marks just the beginning of what looks to be a promising career. With his first PGA Tour win under his belt, the Arizona native is in a prime position to continue his momentum and make a name for himself among golf’s elite. Fans will be eager to see how he follows up this breakout performance when the 2025 season kicks off.
For the PGA Tour, the Black Desert Championship is a testament to the depth of talent in professional golf. And if McCarty’s rapid rise is any indication, the future of the game is brighter than ever.