Denny McCarthy forced a Valero Texas Open playoff matchup with Akshay Bhatia by making seven consecutive closing birdies for a back-nine 28.
McCarthy set a TOUR record by requiring just 92 putts over 72 holes at TPC San Antonio. At the location, his final-nine score of 28 also set a tournament back-nine scoring record.
However, he will put in even more effort to win his first TOUR title next week.
With seven holes remaining on Sunday at TPC San Antonio, McCarthy was behind by five shots. However, he suddenly took off, tying Bhatia at 20-under 268 and requiring overtime. However, McCarthy’s scorching run came to an untimely end when his third shot on the par-5 18th, the first playoff hole, was caught heavily and ended up in the creek in front of the green.
He was given a penalty, and because he missed his fifth attempt, Bhatia had a pretty stress-free shot. Before his third shot, Bhatia received treatment for his shoulder and stuffed a wedge to six feet, making the winning birdie.
McCarthy, a seventh-year Tour professional, has finished in the top five eight times on the circuit, although he has yet to win. His almost remarkable return in the Lone Star State proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has what it takes.
McCarthy claimed, “I was just trying to stack shots together,” in the aftermath. “I was merely attempting to carry on with my weekly routine and managed to string together some excellent putts and shots.
They were tumbling. I was able to apply a little pressure to his back by sort of just going into my own little universe and being in the zone. All week, the putter felt fantastic in my hands. Having it in my hands again felt fantastic, of course. It was a wonderful day. Although it hurts that it had to end that way, things must carry on.”
In Sunday’s last grouping, Bhatia and McCarthy played with Brendon Todd, and for the majority of the day, it seemed like Bhatia would have an easy stroll up the 72nd hole.
That shifted when McCarthy persisted in hitting birdies. With seven holes remaining, Bhatia had a five-hole lead. He played those final seven holes with two birdies and five pars, but he still needed more holes to win his second TOUR title and get invited to the Masters.
McCarthy did receive a Masters invitation as a result of finishing in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking at the conclusion of 2023.
McCarthy has experienced tight losses in the past, most notably to Viktor Hovland in the playoffs at the Workday Memorial Tournament. After ten straight pars before a bogey on the 72nd hole, that defeat occurred.
In stark contrast, this runner-up’s late burst of birdies tied Kevin Streelman’s record seven consecutive closing birdies to win the 2014 Travelers Championship. It was almost surreal.
Although McCarthy expects to take a lot of positives into the Masters and beyond, the playoff wedge shot will hurt.
McCarthy remarked afterwards, “I wish I could have had that wedge shot back there.” “A few times, I pulled back. A bug jumped back onto my ball after there was some noise in the stands and it was on my ball.
Though maybe it distracted me a little, I felt like I could kind of ignore it and definitely should have backed away again. Though it was probably a learning experience for me, I thought I handled myself quite well today overall.”
Here’s a brief recap of McCarthy’s incredible Sunday back nine at TPC San Antonio:
147-yard approach to 17 feet on hole 10 (par 4, 467 yards); makes birdie from fringe
Hole 11: 117-yard approach to 29 feet; two putts for par on this par-4, 393-yard hole
Hole 12: 122-yard approach to 33 feet on a par 4, 397-yard course; makes birdie
Hole 13: 252-yard tee shot to 4 feet on a par-3, 251-yard course; makes birdie
Hole 14 (par 5, 576 yards): pitch to 11 feet on the second shot, 289 yards to 33 yards, and make birdie.
Hole 15 (par 4, 452 yards): 169 yards to 41 feet on the approach; short of the green, chip in for a birdie.
Hole 16: 170-yard tee shot to 12 feet on a par-3, 173-yard course; makes birdie
Hole 17 (par 4, 335 yards): Chip to 3 feet and scores birdie; tee shot to 22 yards, short and right of green
Hole 18 (par 5, 606 yards): Lays up to 67 yards with second shot; wedges to 13 feet for birdie.
