Denny McCarthy was on the verge of a historic comeback and his first career win on the PGA Tour before a mishit wedge on the first playoff hole opened the for Akshay Bhatia who won the Valero Texas Open.
McCarthy birdied his final seven holes — including a chip in — and eight of his last nine for a course record 28 on the back nine at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. He shot a 63 to put pressure on his final group playing partner Ashman Bhatia who held a six shot lead at one point on Sunday.
“I just was trying to stack shots together,” McCarthy told PGA Tour reporters afterward. “I was just trying to kind of continue what I have been doing all week and just strung together a lot of really good shots, a lot of good putts. They were falling. I kind of just got in my own little world out there, got in the zone and was able to put a little pressure on him on the back. … The putter felt great in my hands all week. Obviously it felt great it in my hands again today. It was a great day. It sucks that it had to end like that, but just got to move forward.”
The players were tied at 19 under heading to 18. McCarthy made his final birdie putt forcing Bhutan to make his putt which he drained to force a playoff.
On the first playoff hole, the players replayed the 18th. McCarthy chunked a 99 yard wedge shot leading to a double bogey.
“Wish I could have had that wedge shot back there,” McCarthy said. “I backed off a couple times. There was a bug on my ball and some noise in the stands and a bug jumped back on my ball. I probably should have backed away again, but I thought I could kind of not let it distract me and maybe it did a little. Maybe a learning experience for me, but all in all I handled myself really well today.”
Bhatani birdied for his second career win and a ticket to his first ever Masters next week.
McCarthy, the Georgetown Prep alum and three-time all-American at the University of Virginia alum, was playing in his 174th event on the PGA Tour. His 92 putts this week tied the mark for fewest in PGA Tour history.
Winning is hard.
Denny McCarthy has found the water from 99 yards out on the first playoff hole. pic.twitter.com/41GpsUEvEZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 7, 2024
Not going away without a fight 👊@_DennyMcCarthy gets within four of the lead @ValeroTXOpen. pic.twitter.com/UCnVhhIYeP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 7, 2024
McCarthy has been close to winning a handful times including last year when he lost in a playoff to Viktor Hovland at the Memorial Tournament.
He will play next week in his first ever Masters.
