BLACK DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP

October 12, 2024

Matt McCarty

Quick Quotes

Q. Good round, Matt.

MATT McCARTY: Thank you.

Q. Restart this morning; then kept it going. How you feeling going into the final round?

MATT McCARTY: Yeah, I mean, long day. A little tired. You know, watch whatever is left of the football today and just go to bed early.

Feels good. I kind of didn't get off to a great start. It's kind of nice to have another range session to get it going again.

Yeah, no, it was fun. Just kind of got hot a little bit, cooled off in the middle, and was able to make some nice pars. And the bogey on 10 was good.

Yeah, then just finished with a couple and hit it well. You just keep yourself in the fairway out here, you can kind of have some chances. It was nice to make a few putts today as well.

Q. Dad came in surprised you. When did you notice him during your round?

MATT McCARTY: He yelled at me on 1, so I knew right way. He's hard to miss. He's a big dude. Yeah, that was nice. Yeah, always great having him out.

Q. What's his name?

MATT McCARTY: Scott. They call him Scooter.

Q. Where did he come from, Arizona?

MATT McCARTY: Yeah, Phoenix.

Q. Joe was in here earlier. He shot 62. He's a lefty; Mike Weir at one point was 5-under in the first round. I have to ask, is this course -- is something that's lefty friendly about it?

MATT McCARTY: No, I mean, I think the way that these greens are shaped there is a lot of holes that are lefty or righty favored. Like 4 isn't a great lefty hole. If you pull it like you're in the rocks. I guess 18 is kind of favoring like -- hopefully I'm never really going to hit it long left there.

Yeah, I think there is a bunch of -- like some holes help and some hurt always. I don't think it's a big deal. More so just kind of growing up in the desert and being comfortable with finding my lines on a course where there is no trees and everything is helpful.

I mean, been driving it well. I think a lot of tee shots fit my eye. You still got to put a good swing on it.

Q. Was it immediate for you when you first saw this place and you said to yourself, this is my kind of jam?

MATT McCARTY: Yeah, I mean, I think it's just very comfortable environment being back in the desert. Just like the views and like it's just a cool place to be. Cool place to play well also.

Yeah, I mean, just growing up in desert golf, very familiar I guess. Yeah, there were a few holes that kind of both the drivable par-3s kind of fit my eye well. A lot guys probably been laying up on 5. I feel like I like that tee ball a little bit more.

Yeah, a lot of good numbers for us, too. Just how far I hit my driver and 3-wood, it feels comfortable in that aspect. Also very uncomfortable golf course if you're off the fairway. You could be reloading. It's a tough place to have nerves on, and tomorrow will be no different for sure.

Q. You led at Korn Ferry TOUR, but that's one thing. How is this going to be different tomorrow in terms of trying to close this one out? Second TOUR tournament ever.

MATT McCARTY: I just think the level is higher out here. Like you got to play well and probably even a little bit better to close it out. It's the same thing. All the stuff that kind of comes on the other side of a win out here, of having the exemption for a couple years, getting in the Masters, stuff like that. It's hard not to think about those things.

But, yeah, it's fun. This is what I've wanted to do, and to put myself in this chance so early, like I'm just going to enjoy the opportunity. It's going to be really difficult what I have to do tomorrow. If I play well, I'm confident I'll be able to win.

If not, you know, we're just getting started, so...

Q. Have the scores surprised you as low as they have been or is this typical what you're used to with desert golf?

MATT McCARTY: There is a little kind of wind the last couple days, but I felt like for the most part it's kind of soft. There are two drivable 4s, all the par-5s are kind of gettable. Kind of makes sense. Everybody out here is so good. Nothing really surprises me after three years on the Korn Ferry to be honest.

Q. So a number doesn't matter? Just making individual shots?

MATT McCARTY: Yeah, that's what I got to do. One shot at a time. Bogeyed the first hole today, and you can't be like oh, I got to go shoot six or seven. Just got to keep hitting shots and finding your ball and trying to make some putts.

Q. Never a discussion of a run that you went on after that bogey at 1. You guys weren't talking about it? Just moving on?

MATT McCARTY: We've been on runs before. We'll be on runs again up runs are always fun. He just tries to keep me going. The point is to make a birdie so you shouldn't be shocked when you do it I guess.