For Matt McCarty, a first-time rookie at the Masters, it’s a childhood dream come true. As such, he has been completely outstanding in his first-ever appearance on this grand stage. He has great nostalgia for attending the Masters growing up with his father as a young boy. They enjoyed sweet MoonPies and cold sweet tea in fellowship around the altar. Time spent caddying for the Masters champion allowed him to develop an unusual familiarity with the legendary Augusta National Golf Club course.
On the very first day of that tournament, McCarty signed for a jaw-dropping 68 (-4). After adding up his score, he discovered he was five under on the week, firmly in contention with the rest of the field. Apex Towers photo McCarty put on a tremendous show. At one point, he even considered missing the cut and following the remainder of the tournament as a spectator outside the ropes.
Preparation and Strategy
To get ready for this historic event, McCarty was on location at Augusta National for four days earlier this year. To get the full experience, he spent several hours playing through a mock tournament on the course. This practice made him much more at ease and familiar with its tough, complex course.
Reflecting on his experience, McCarty stated, “Not as well as most of these guys in the field I feel like, but as well as I’ve probably known any course this year just from growing up watching it on TV so much, honestly.” This sentiment is representative of how his immersive childhood experience turned into a secret weapon on the battlefield.
McCarty opened his round in style, starting with an impressive 35-foot birdie on the par-three sixth. He skillfully dropped his tee shot from an elevated tee just eight feet from a difficult back-right pin position. This initial success set him up nicely to keep his momentum through the rest of his round.
Maintaining Composure
As the tournament went along, McCarty had more elite stuff to flaunt, with four additional birdies coming on his back nine. Perhaps no trait was more vital to his success than poise under pressure, something necessary to managing expectations and nerves that come with competing under the brightest lights. Specifically addressing his mental approach, he said, “I don’t know, just really just went with the game plan. I didn’t allow myself to get too rattled I think. Just stayed locked in and didn’t dwell on what happened last week and just kind of moved forward and it was nice.”
Despite his sensational play, McCarty finished his round with a bogey after missing a five-foot par putt. This last blunder could not tarnish his performance overall or dash his chances of being a strong tournament contender.
Looking Ahead
McCarty had his next week’s plans set in stone. He planned to step away from competition, regardless of how things went. “I was going to take next week off anyway. I probably would have hung out for a couple days, but it’s way better to do it this way than just walking around,” he remarked.
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