The Starter: McCarty Notches First PGA TOUR Win; Bradbury Triumphs in France; Ruoning Yin's Home Town Victory

icon
6 min read
iconOct 14, 2024, 8:19 AMicon

"The Starter" recaps the week gone by in golf. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment: McCarty Notches First PGA TOUR Win; Bradbury Triumphs in France; Ruoning Yin's Home Town Victory.

Matt McCarty Triumphs in Inaugural Black Desert Championship for First PGA Tour Victory

Yesterday, in an impressive performance at the inaugural Black Desert Championship, Matt McCarty secured his first PGA Tour victory. McCarty, a 26-year-old former Santa Clara University golfer, achieved this milestone in just two starts after gaining a battlefield promotion on the Korn Ferry Tour.

McCarty's victory saw exceptional play throughout the tournament, with rounds of 62, 68, 64, and 67 ending at -23 and a three-shot win. He started the week with a fantastic bogey-free 62 on Thursday, which put him three shots behind Adam Svensson's red-hot opening round of 60. Svensson finished in a tie for 25th, at 13-under par and a whopping ten shots behind McCarty. By the third round, McCarty found himself in the lead by two shots by way of 7-under par 64.

On Sunday, McCarty continued to maintain form. Despite bogeying the 12th, he bounced back with an impressive eagle on the 14th, giving him a comfortable three-stroke lead that he would never relinquish. He went on to finish with a 4-under 67 on the day, which was appropriately capped off with a birdie on the 72nd hole. Runner-up Stephan Jaeger finished the week at 20-under par, three behind McCarty.

Matt McCarty's ascent from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA TOUR has been nothing short of meteoric. 

His victory is the culmination of a string of three wins in six events on the Korn Ferry Tour, earning him what has been dubbed a 'Battlefield Promotion.' This promotion, earned by winning three times on the Korn Ferry Tour, automatically elevates you to the PGA TOUR. With his recent win, McCarty joins the elite ranks of players like Jason Gore, who, in 2005, won three Korn Ferry events and then claimed victory in a PGA event within the same season.

Stephan Jaeger held the 36-hole lead but had to settle for second with his closing round of 68. Despite a valiant effort down the stretch, including three birdies in the last six holes, he couldn't surpass McCarty. Lucas Glover, who made seven birdies in his first ten holes, tied for third with Kevin Streelman, both recording their best finishes of the season.

Who is Matt McCarty?

26-year-old Matt McCarty was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he still resides. He attended Santa Clara University, initially majoring in finance before switching to marketing for graduate school. During his college career, he earned All-West Coast Conference honors three times and reached the quarterfinals in the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with teammate Derek Ackerman.

Turning professional in 2021, McCarty first played on the Forme Tour, a short-lived professional tour formed by the PGA TOUR in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its related travel restrictions between the United States and Canada. McCarty's best finish on the Forme was a T5. That same year, Matt also won the Wyoming State Open. In 2022, McCarty joined the Korn Ferry Tour, eventually earning three victories in 2024 within a six-week period. These achievements secured him a spot on the PGA TOUR for 2024.
 


Dan Bradbury Notches Second DP World Tour Win at FedEx Open de France

Dan Bradbury clinched victory on Sunday at the DP World Tour's FedEx Open de France with a remarkable final-round bogey-free 66 at Le Golf National in Paris. Despite a crowded leaderboard coming into Sunday, Bradbury surged ahead with three consecutive birdies on the back nine, securing the win with a 16-under par 72-hole total of 268.

Bradbury's win was not assured upon finishing his final round. 

He had to watch from the scorers' hut as Thorbjørn Olesen and Sam Bairstow, tied with Jeff Winther and Yannik Paul, settled for par on their final hole. With the victory, Bradbury secured a spot at upcoming events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and his excitement about those opportunities was evident: "I guess I'll be looking at flights to Dubai then!"

Without a doubt, it was an intense finish at Le Golf National. Jesper Svensson held a slim lead going into the final round but had to settle for a tie for 27th with a disappointing final round 76.

Thorbjørn Olesen, Sam Bairstow, Jeff Winther, and Yannik Paul all had chances to potentially extend the day past regulation but finished one shot back of Bradbury.

In the end, Bradbury demonstrated great composure, closing out the tournament with his 4-under par 31 on the back nine. His second DP World Tour win is a testament to his growth and resilience since turning professional in 2022.

 

Ruoning Yin's Home Victory: Helping to Inspire Young Golfers in China

Ruoning Yin grabbed her fourth career LPGA Tour win on Sunday, winning the Buick LPGA Shanghai in her hometown and on a course, the Qizhong Garden Golf Club, on which she is very comfortable. Yin's victory is her first in Shanghai. Winning on home soil is always special; for Yin, Sunday was both an emotional and proud moment.

Yin navigated the course remarkably over the weekend, shooting a 9-under par 63 on Saturday and an 8-under par 64 on Sunday. Her putting was phenomenal, taking only 26 putts each day over the final 36 holes.

Victory in terms of prize money or recognition is great, but the added joy of achieving this milestone at home in front of friends and family is even greater.

Yin's victory in Shanghai is not just a personal triumph but a significant milestone in her career. As Yin's journey continues, she will serve as an inspiration to many young golfers, especially those from her home country, who look up to her as a role model. This victory also underscores the growth of women's golf in China and the potential for more Chinese golfers to follow in her footsteps, ushering in a new era for the sport in the country.

Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.

Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.

Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.

Interests:
icon
PGA
icon
Coaching
icon
Teaching
icon
Spending time with the family
icon
Movies
icon
Music

More Golf Stories

Our Authors

Paruyr Shahbazyan started his business career as an entrepreneur in 2000. Over 13 years, he learned business and leadership, which laid the foundation for his career.

In 2013, Paruyr entered the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating, an online media platform he led until 2020. The platform focuses on in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting and has gained a reputation for quality content.

In 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This shows his commitment to technology in the sports betting space. Through all these experiences, Paruyr has been shaping and influencing the betting industry, setting new trends and standards.

Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports.

Strategic Vision

Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports entertainment industry by integrating technology. He sees the future of sports entertainment as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. He aims to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical reporting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable sports culture.

Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Editor-in-Chief

With 20+ years of writing experience across sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups, Sol brings a broad understanding to his role as Editor-in-Chief at RG. His work provides clear, factual information to help readers make informed decisions about gambling. Sol’s approach is about transparency and research, so the content at RG is straightforward, evidence-based, and accessible.

At RG, Sol keeps the focus on the reader by maintaining a standard of reliability and integrity in the information shared. Under his editorial direction, RG aims to provide practical insights into sports and sports entertainment that support a balanced and informed approach. Sol’s approach has helped RG become a go-to source for readers looking to engage responsibly and thoughtfully in the industry.

Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina Varela Galan
Problem Gambling Expert

Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project 

 “Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.

Nick Ashbourne
Nick Ashbourne
Senior Writer

Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game in 1998, and he's been writing about them professionally since 2014.

Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports while growing his expertise in sports data analysis and research. 

Between 2022 and 2023, he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets. In 2024, he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the RG team.

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Anna Kravtcova
Anna Kravtcova
Problem Gambling Expert

Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.

Mark Medina
Mark Medina
NBA Reporter

Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Sports Reporter

Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.

He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.

He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.

Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Hockey Reporter

Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.

Show More