April 17, 2025 • 24 mins
PING Pro Matt McCarty joined Shane and Marty in the PING Tour Truck earlier this year during the WM Phoenix Open. They talked about his recent success as a three-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024, his first PGA Tour title at the Black Desert Championship, equipment, as well as the majors and important events on his schedule for 2025.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The guys from paying They've kind of showed me how
much the equipment matters.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I just love that I can hit any shot.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
I kind of want we're gonna be able to tell
some fun stories about what goes on here to help
golfers play better golf.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Hey, hey, everybody, welcome back to the Pinging proven Grounds podcast.
Shane Bake and Marty Jerts in a second appearance for
mister Mat McCarty. You're like a now a podcast regular.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeah, yeah, no, happy to be back on.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Twenty twenty five. I know this season, I know maybe
you haven't played as good at golf as you play,
But I want to go back to twenty twenty four
for a bit, because you know, you have this breakout,
You're on the corn Ferry Tour, you flip to the
PGA Tour, you win pretty much instantly. Have you had
time to like process twenty twenty four like and just
you do you have time like this winner to just
sit back and go like what I was able to do,
(00:46):
how I was able to play, Like if you had
any time to kind of think about.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
It, Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
I mean I think when you're kind of just going
like that, it just kind of everything happens and you're
just playing good golf and everything kind of snowballs on itself.
But uh yeah, definitely to kind of you know, reminisce
a little bit, but also kind of think about like
what I'm doing well or what I was doing well,
like what I need to kind of keep doing, keep
improving and working on. And uh was a good off season.
A little shorter than I was used to, but that
(01:11):
was all all positive, So it's good.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
What is like the definition of off season Like, yeah, it's.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Only in a few weeks. Yeah, yeah, this year, I
mean it flew by.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
It seemed like it was just like it's six weeks,
but it flew by in a couple So yeah, it
was good. I mean a lot a lot of sitting
on the couch watching football after twenty nine events in
a year.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
But yeah, no, it was fun.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Nice to you know, spend time with family and friends
and just kind of you know, not be bouncing around
city of city every week, is you know, kind of nice.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
But uh yeah, it's good.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
What what what type of practicing training? What did you
kind of do during the off season here?
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I think a lot of just kind of out, you know,
my body was kind of a little run down after
last season, so just trying to kind of recover a
little bit a little bit like strength training, get back
in the gym, lift some weights and but yeah, and
then just kind of give yourself some time to rest,
I think like mentally as well, just kind of turn
turn your prain off from golf a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
But yeah, Yeah, it was good, and I spend the holidays.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And you know, excited to kind of you know, get
going out here too and be right back in it.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
We were talking before you got going about you shooting
fifty nine. You said your fourth professional tournament, Is that
what you said? Or fourth professional round is that right?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Like turn Yeah, fourth professional tournament in the Wyoming stayed open.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yeah, and you said, you know, one of the hardest
things we've talked a lot about. It is a cliche
and professional golfs like the round after and you're like,
you know, you go out there and you shoot even
I'm assuming in a way you start twenty twenty five,
you have this incredible twenty twenty four and it's like
back to the grind, you know. You hear players talk
about the first one on the PGA Tour and then
Thursday comes around and it's you know, you're even again, right,
You're like tied with everybody else. Has it been difficult
(02:43):
to kind of jump start twenty twenty five after what
happened last season or have you been energized to get
the year going now?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
I mean, I think got kicked in the teeth a
little bit early at Centric. I mean, shooting like six
under Friday, I think, and I played okay, and you
just get.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
A lapped by that entire field.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
But uh, yeah, No, it's been good, and I think
it's definitely different out here. You know, the courses are
a little bit more challenging. Obviously, the caliber of other
players is higher.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So yeah, you're a little off out here and you
kind of can get exposed a little bit.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
But you know, it's exciting and dream come true to
be out here, and especially like growing up in Phoenix
and starting on the West Coast swing, like very comfortable,
kind of getting some events in California, went to college
there and haven't really played you know, tournaments there in
the last three years. So it's been been a lot
of fun to kind of be background home and background
a lot of like friends and family.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Two, it has been good.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
You've I think shooting fifty nine, you got the capability
of going low. How does that like? And then you're
talking about century where the scores are really really low, obviously,
talk about that mindset of like continue to make birdies.
I mean when you won last fall, what you were
twenty four under, twenty three I think twenty three under.
So like, just what's it like to kind of be
(03:52):
in those tournaments where you have to keep making birdies,
keep making birdies, shoot six seven unders a day?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Yeah, I mean you kind of just got to keep
looking at the pin and just visualize seeing it go close,
but really like not really kind of think about where
you're at and literally like each hole is kind of
its own thing, and you know, once you get to
like five six seven under, I think that's the thing
that you learn a lot, or at least I learned
a lot on the corn Ferry Tour. I mean, you know,
you shoot three four under out there and you're kind
(04:17):
of getting laps. You kind of got to learn how
to shoot you know, six seven eight nine hunderbar a
lot of times, and you know it's very important to
kind of just keep the pedal down when you're out
there and on a good day and then days when
you're kind off just kind of figure out how to
scrape something around out there.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
What do you think when you look back on twenty
twenty four, the run you had on the corn Ferry Tour,
you win the three times, and then you went on
the PGA Tour, when you took some time to kind
of think back to the season, how I played all
the good stuff? What do you think you did the best? Like,
what was the part of your game mentally, physically, whatever
the case may be that you feel like took you
to that place.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Honestly, I think more than anything, and a lot of
what I've been talking about with like a lot of
people on my team the last few weeks is just
just I was just playing golf, like very simil put
but not like you know, thinking about golf swing, not
thinking about like my stroke putting, but just kind of
trying to visualize each shot, commit and just kind of
hit it as close as you can, try.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
To make the ball in the hole as quickly as possible.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
But I mean, just that joy that comes with that
of just playing the game, and just playing golf in
general I think is super important for me. But also
like to have success and just kind of that freedom
that comes with that is uh usually the best thing
for me.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I mean, like Marty, we had this window. You know,
we're do the Corn Ferry Tour, you know, on TV,
and I remember mad I think he won a couple
of times at this point. Maybe we're like in Utah
or something, and we have him in the window, and
I was pumped because, like, you've been played so well,
and you know, I've known Mat for a while and
you played okay in the opening round. You might have
shot like one under and like all right, you know,
I mean it's fine. You know, he's having a good
season whatever. Like the next day you shot like ten under,
(05:47):
and I'm like, oh, I he is having fun. Like
this is really fun right now. When you're able to
even when the round's not going your way or the
opening round's not going your way, you were able to
kind of like walk back in And that stretch has
to be the best golf you played in your life,
that run on the Corn Fairy.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Yeah, and I think too, like like you said, I mean,
you shoot like one under the first round on pretty
easy course in Utah, and it's like you can't put
too much emphasis on like how you're playing, Like sometimes
you play good and you just kind of the scores
aren't there, and then it's like, you know, you come
out the next day, and that's a great part about
golf is you know you always got another chance the
next day and a ton of rounds out here. So yeah,
(06:20):
it's definitely good, but that mindset's definitely super important.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Now, tell us a little bit about the week at
the Black Dozer Championship, Like showed up at the course.
It's a course nobody had played before. I know, watching
it on TV, it was amazing. You know when did
you start feeling good? Was it in the practice rounds?
After the first round? Yeah, I mean about that week.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
The place is just visually very cool, like to look
at kind of the course, Like I felt good that
it was like an even playing field. I think like
a lot of these events early in the year too,
is like a lot of these guys have been out here,
you know, ten fifteen years and very comfortable with the
golf course. So kind of having that start of like
on a level playing field, and I felt like I
honestly a little bit of advantage like growing up in
(07:01):
the desert kind of a lot of like weird blind
t shots. You know, if you hit it offline, you're
not gonna find that golf ball. So very comfortable, like
you know environment in that aspect, but also like the
golf course itself, and then you know the weather is
a little you know, warm kind of you hit a
high one, the ball really goes. So growing up here,
you know, in Phoenix was definitely like very similar and yeah,
(07:24):
and that part of Utah is great. Like me and
my girlfriend went on trip to Zion a couple of
years ago, so I'd been up there before with the
Red Rocks and loved it, and yeah, it was just
just a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I mean, how much are vibes important to playing good golf?
Like you go to a place the week's going, well,
maybe the girlfriend's there with you, Like I feel like
you're a vibes guy in general, Like are vibes massively
important for having a good week? Or can you show
up to place the golf where you don't love and
you're not it's not in your game? You can still
play that type of place?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Well, yeah, I mean I think it's fifty to fifty.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Like I think when you're comfortable, like having fun off
the course that week is definitely a lot easier. I
think a place that my vibes were pretty low was
at Colorado for TBC Colorado for the corn Ferry Event.
I'd missed the cut there two years first two years
out and then this year, you know, I think set
their fifty four hole scoring record, had like a three
shot lead.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So early into the last round.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
But like you know, when you kind of conquer a
place that you don't feel comfortable at too, that's you know,
kind of gets it going as well, and kind of
that kind of gave me some confidence. Even though I
didn't win that week, definitely gave me a lot of
confidence kind of moving forward and the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
But yeah, I mean it's always fun, like when you're.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
You know, being in San Diego is a lot better
than being in Springfield, Illinois.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So the vibes has been a lot better out here
onto it last.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
But what's been the biggest change? I Mean, we ask
players they graduate from the Corn Ferry Tour to the
PJA Tour this a lot, like what's the one thing
that stood out or what's the one thing that's been
mastly different? As you've kind of started twenty twenty five,
and you've got a chance to play in some of
the really big boy events. Like what's the thing? Doesn't
necessarily have to be a big thing, but what's something
that stood out to you that's wow, this is way
(09:01):
different than what I've experienced a pro golfer at this point.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
I mean, honestly, just playing against the guys that you
watch on TV is the biggest thing. Getting the courtesy
car straight out of the airport is like one of
the little things that I think that's the nicest, not having.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
To drop it all, like what do you get it?
Speaker 4 (09:16):
It's different every week, but it's just kind of there
about it.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
But if we're about a rental car, I don't if
we're about riding with other people, like my car is here?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, no more Avis lines is really nice.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
But uh but yeah, I would say just like the
golf courses has been the biggest difference for sure. I
mean a little bit more demanding off the tee always.
They've been a little bit firmer out here for sure,
So like kind of puts a premium on ball striking.
But also I like, you know, you kind of got
to think your way around it a little bit more
less like kind of point shoot, try to go absolutely
ballistic every week, which is nice, but definitely an adjustment
(09:50):
and you know, kind of a learning experience for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
At the Black Desert Championship, I'm curious to get your
take on this, but I read a stat it had
the highest fairway hip percentage but also the most provisionals
off the tea. Yeah, did you have to hit any
provisionals that week?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I did not. We did not find the desert.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Actually, the only time I did find the desert was
with like a fifty degree from a bunker, just kind
of bladed it.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
But nothing off the tee. So usually pretty accurate. Soay's
one of my strikes out there.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
But yeah, the fairways were wide, but it's a very
visually intimidating golf course and there's like four or five
out there that you really got to hit well or
else you're kind of in the lava and you know
you're never gonna find it.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Like like confidence wise, I mean again kind of like
following you throughout the season, like Corn Ferry Tour and
just seeing you, like when when when play well, even
when you weren't winning, you were having high finishes like
I go to the eighteenth hole on Sunday and the
way you were able to kind of close that thing out.
It's a par five again. You know, if you spray it,
it can get you in trouble. I think you might
have had what a one or two shot maybe a
two shot lead at that point. Yeah, and it's like
(10:52):
smoke a tea shot and then you hit that second
shot to what like ten feet fifteen feet for eagle.
It's just to me, it like encapsulated your year. Is
my confidence in my game to be able to close
something out like that?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, And I think that's a big part of it.
I mean you got to kind of stay aggressive. You
get a little timid out there, and you know, you
try to play a little conservative, and then if that
shot that you're hitting conservative doesn't go well puts you
in more of a bad spot. You're better off kind
of just trying to get it as close as you
can and make the next one a little bit as easier.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
But that was definitely my mindset.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
I'm like, you know, I could hit threw it off
this tea, but then I got, you know, another longer
iron in and it hit my driver. Well, so kind
of get as close as possible, and you know, being
able to be on that green in two and you know,
being able like four or five butt to win was
definitely very sure. I could let myself relaxed.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah yeah, you can actually smile on the walk up.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Matt, tell us a little bout what's going on in
your bag? You still rolling the tyn Cee Center shafting.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yeah, yeah, not much has changed obviously, like the new
wood's coming out, so.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Kind of been tinking around.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Finally figured it out, you know, how to week kind
of with the short offseason was kind of tough to
you know, not playing a lot to kind of really
you know, trust something in the bag. But after this
last week, you know, being back in Phoenix and going
out to ping, you know Thursday, you know, the boys
got me dialed again and the new driver has been
great and spinning a little bit less, launched a little
(12:14):
higher for me, which is great, and you know, gained
some distance.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
A little bit of speed.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
So was the four lst Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I
went I went down to the nine and then kind
of I like seeing loft, so went back up to
the ten to five, turned it down. It's at about
nine and a half added a little hot melt, you know,
got I didn't. I grew up a lefty kind of
just playing whatever. So I've been learning a little bit
about kind of tinkering around with some clubs. But uh yeah,
(12:39):
the guys here are awesome and you know, kind of
get it, get you going and put you in that perfect,
perfect zone.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
So it's been good.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Sw Yeah, being a lefty growing up and you're like,
just use this.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I guess this is the club.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I'm going to use it.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I'll just make it sing. It's just so fun that now.
I mean even with four forty, it's like the four
wood and the seven would the nine, with like all
the options for a lefty golfer being the same as
a I mean, it definitely feels different thanhen we were
like teenagers.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You know. Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
That's kind of been a big thing for me, like
the last three or four years of just kind of
learning about the equipment and you can, you know, if
you kind of want to make the ball do something,
you can have that advantage, you know, just based on
the club that you're using.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So it's been nice for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Have you been able to have some fun, like I mean,
you have this crazy twenty twenty four and then you
kind of run right into twenty twenty five. Like, have
you stepped away from the game at all and been
able to like enjoy it or go do anything or
has it mostly been chilling, relaxed and just preparing for
the season.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Yeah, a little bit of both.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Me and my girlfriend took a really nice trip for
like a week in Montana this winter, So that was nice.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Just like you guys are like, you're like not beach.
I mean you're like going to the Zion National Park
in Montana, Like that's your.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Yeah, So like you know, likes doing hikes and stuff
like that, and you know, we're going to Maui, you know,
for New Year's so we figured we had the beach
covered and it was kind of cool to do something
like that. And you know, it's been a while since
I had, you know, been on a plane without the clubs,
which is always a nice feel.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
It feels like you're always like forgetting a bunch of stuff.
But it was nice.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
You got a sciar snowboarder.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Not anymore. I haven't been in a while. I'm too
afraid I'm gonna hurt myself.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Smart. Smart, you don't want to do that and you'll
like just waste a year because you have an AHBL
injury or something silly. The win, obviously, you get into
a lot of these major championships. So I mean you're
looking ahead of twenty twenty five. I know Phoenix has
been big for you in terms of circling and just
because you grew up here and you've been out to
the Phoenix Open a whole bunch. So I want to
talk to you about that a little bit. But as
(14:26):
we inch closer to augusta like, is it on the brain?
Do you think about it? Have you got a chance
to go out there and play around at the golf
course yet?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I haven't been out yet. I've been thinking about it
kind of.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
I was thinking about it last week and maybe in
another week if the weather kind of turns.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
But I think it's snowed there like a week and
a half ago.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I was like, I don't know if that's probably not
a good practice round the show.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
You're ready for me yet?
Speaker 4 (14:46):
But uh no, I'm definitely circled on the calendar, and
you know with the US Open, the players and the
PGA as well, and you know, waste is kind of
you know, this environment I feel like is you know,
I'm gonna feel very similar to that outre as I will,
you know, those weeks so kind of good prep that week,
you know, to kind of get those nerves going a
little bit and that excitement, you know.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
But yeah, definitely excited to go out there.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And kind of see it and you know, step on
the grounds out there would be very special for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
What was your first Phoenix Open experience? Like, do you
remember how old you were whatever when you came up
with the Press.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I mean we moved here from Seattle, and I was
like ten or eleven, and I think I came out
here every year, so I was, you know, eleven twelve.
We'd do like, you know, probably a little bit too
young at that point to do the standard baron, but
just following my dad around watching guys hit balls put
you know. Obviously kind of once I got a little older,
weaseled my way into sixteen in that atmosphere. So uh yeah,
(15:41):
I mean, growing up out here, I think that's kind
of a big part of like what I think about
golf and like that it's fun and it's nice when
you see the guys kind of like buy into that atmosphere,
and I think this is one of the most well
run tournaments of the year and just kind of you
know how how much like the community here builds it
up and you know, the support.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
For it obviously, but also like just the atmosphere.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
It feels like you're you know, just played, you know,
played the back nine out there today and.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
You know sixteen.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I mean that's how you got to feel like when
you're playing an NBA game or an NFL game or something,
it's just insane.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
It's a different feeling.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
So but yeah, it's a lot of fun and just
like golf should be fun, and especially like when you're
doing it at a high level like this, to have
that many people out you know, watching your plays a
really cool thing.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Were you did you do Standard Bear?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Yeah, in a few years growing up. So my biggest
memories Ken Duke. I think he was just nice, Like,
you know, a lot of the guys locked in all
the time, and I especially out here, you kind of got.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
To put your blinders on a little bit.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
But I mean he was just like, you know, chopping
it up with us down the fairways and stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
So I remember that He's just a great dude. So yeah, yeah,
that's the goal for the week.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, for me, I did as a kid a few times,
and for me it was Calcri. Yeah, he was so
nice to us, you know, so I always remember that.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
But yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Always remember both, right, I mean, because like I know,
the guys like when I was a kid that were
really nice, and then I remember the guys that weren't
so nice. You know, like you kind of remember both ways.
But it was definitely as well.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
But yeah, no, it's cool, and like I mean, growing
up out here, I don't feel that far removed from
being a kid and wanting an autograph and getting a
ball from someone, So yeah, to kind of have you know,
it's pretty surreal that you know, they want my stuff now,
But I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
It's it's it's definitely a very cool feeling for sure.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
How about how the course plays, Like, you know, you've
obviously played it casually a bunch of times and then
here it is you're you played during the tournament. Things
are a little more spicy. What are the biggest differences
you're noticing? Course set up?
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, it's just a lot firmer.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
You know, played out here a lot in December and
you know they kind of protected a little bit, keep
it a little hair softer. Yeah, so it's definitely gonna
have a little bit more spiciness to it this week
for sure. But yeah, it's kind of nice because I
think it's a fairly long golf course, especially when it's soft,
so like if you're hitting in the fairways out here,
you can actually give yourself a lot more wedges and
(18:03):
a little bit more kind of like scoring opportunities.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
When it's firm like this, you know, part fives.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Get a little bit more manageable, but then at the
same time, those part threes get a little bit more
intimidating when you're coming in with like a five six
iron and the greens are concrete.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
So it'll be a fun week.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I always so felt like the part threes here are
like a lot tougher than we give them credit for.
You you know, I mean you think about like I mean,
the ones on the back nine. I mean, it's not
they're not cake holes. I mean obviously, I mean if
you were playing sixteen casually with some buddies and you're
hitting wedge and it's whatever, But the fact that you
know it's in that tournament environ, like you said, the
NBA's level environment. I just feel like I feel like
that's the part of this golf course that can eat
(18:38):
you up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, yeah for sure.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
And like I mean, being very comfortable out here, like
just playing it a lot. It's definitely a lot different,
you know, when the stands are up and people around
and you know, I haven't played a tournament round yet,
but there's more people out here on a Tuesday today.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Than you said.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Fifty people are cheering, you're on your second ball. You're like,
thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
That's very fun. Yeah, first one in the water. But yeah,
I appreciate.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I mean, I'm assuming, and I mean again, you know,
we've talked about this, you know, like Max Home, I
mean wins at Riviera and he talked about like that
was his tournament, you know, growing up. And I mean,
I think golf fans, you know, somebody like me who
thinks about golfers, we always think, oh, man, this person
wants to win the US Open, if this person wants
to win the Masters, Like, yeah, of course you want
to win that. But I feel like every golfer's kind
of got that one tournament. It might not be the
(19:23):
one we think it is. That's close to their heart.
It might have been the one they went to when
they were a kid. And I mean I can only
imagine for you the moment you get that PGA Tour card.
You're circling Scott Stale like you know, when it is
on the schedule and you know you're gonna get an
opportunity to play.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Yeah, I mean that was like, now you got to
finish number one on the corn for it to actually
get in this field.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
So that was kind that was kind of like a
big job on that big part of my goal for
the year.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
But yeah, this is you know, outside of the majors,
this is the biggest tournament of the year for me, Like,
you know, I want to play well and you know,
show the home crowd something and prove that I can,
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Play well out here. And uh yeah obviously.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
And I think too, like with the stands and you
know kind of coming down the stretch out here, if
you're in contention, it's got to be the closest atmosphere
to like that major championship pressure just with all the
people and.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Kind of everything going on.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
So I think there's a lot of you know, a
lot of the past champions out here. Obviously it's like Scottie,
but even like Brooks and like their success after they
kind of their breakthrough win was out here. I think
a lot of it is because of that. If you're
kind of able to handle this environment, I think you
should be able to play in anything.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
So I think that's kind of a cool aspect of
it as well. For sure, what.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Other events are you looking forward to? I mean, obviously
we talked about Augusta. What other events are you Are
you allowing yourself to think about the rest of the
year much or you're trying to stay a little bit
more in the present, And if so, what other events
out there on the calendar do you have kind of
ear marked?
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Yeah, I mean I think the players will be a
really special week. I think for a lot of the guys,
just talking to them like that seems like it's just
an awesome week.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
I played Sagress. A lot of my girlfriend's family lives in.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Jacks, so, oh nice steel, pretty comfortable with that place,
a little bit pretty similar though. I always kind of
played it when it's very soft, so I think it's
gonna be a different animal when it's firm and the
roughs up out there but yeah, I mean trying to
kind of keep it like one week at a time.
I think this West Coast Swing I was very excited for.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
I mean being at Tory two weeks ago was really cool,
Like you know, grew up going out there.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
I watched the US Open in UH eight when Tiger
won obviously, ye, so just kind of being at some
places that you've watched on TVs like very cool.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
But yeah, Toy was a pretty pretty sweet week. And
but yeah, this, you know, being home in Phoenix and
getting to play the waist is pretty pretty awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Well, I mean it feels like, you know, you think
about what they've done now with the players, and I'd
say the players and like the Ryder Cup are probably
the two events closest to this one. You know, in Phoenix,
I mean it's it's raucous. There's people out there, they're
excited to be there. The crowds are big, like they
do an amazing job with that tournament.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
It's I think when you prepare an alternate like that,
like you were talking about in Phoenix, it's like when
the event's that well done, it feels bigger even for
the players, not just for the fans.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You know, yeah, yeah, and I was.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
I was playing with a good buddy, Mackmizer today and
you know, he didn't play in this event last year,
but like, you know, we walked through sixteen and he's like,
this is crazy, you know, like, yeah, it's like on
a Tuesday, it's crazy being inside, but even when you're
sitting in the stands, it's not.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Too so like, but yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
And I think, like, you know, when you got like
big time like events like this, like you know, it
shows kind of that. I don't think the tour is
in the bat of a spot as you know, all
this stuff that's going around lately, but it shows that,
like when you put on like a really good event,
you get people excited about it, people are gonna care
and a lot of the good players are going to
show up too.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
So I think that's important for sure.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I like it, Phoenix. Just the involvement of the Junior Golf,
you know, the standard bearers, you get the kids out,
the JJA is involved. Did you play JJA grown up
as a.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Kid, Yeah, yeah, JJ played all over the valley. I
actually I never really played stadium that much growing up.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
I mean it's too expensive.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Yeah, you know, it's like fifteen bucks for us to
play Champions in the afternoon. I grew up fifteen minutes
from here, but I played that place like two hundred
and fifty times. I didn't really play out here till
you know, getting status on corn Ferry and was able
to kind of you know, play and practice out here.
So that definitely felt like kind of like a special
thing for me too. So it's to be able to
play a vetting out here is definitely, you know, kind
of next step of that.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
You said you've been in you've been in the area
of the last couple of weeks. Whence you get back
back from Tory.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
You were back in Arizona, come back after Tory, and
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Do you do you have your checklist of like I've
got to go eat here, I've got to go to
this place.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Yeah, yeah, hit basically all my favorite spots already. So
uh yeah, we're good.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
I've been eating well all week and honestly, just you know,
being at home with my mom and kind of sleeping
in the bed I grew up in.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
But having some home cooked meals is nice too after
being on the road.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
That's got to be kind of surreal, Right, You're like,
this is the house, this is the bed. Now I'm
playing in the golf tournament. You know, like all of
these kind of mixed emotions. I'm sure it's got to
be exciting, but it's also kind of got a feel
while I'm sure you have moments throughout the week where
you're kind of like, what the hell's going on here?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
You know?
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Yeah, yeah, no, it is crazy and like, you know,
pulling into my house, like the courtesy cars definitely different feeling.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Marty said he when he played at the Phoenix, somebody
said he was driving down his neighborhood and the courtesy car.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yeah, so it's a weird feeling, but.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
I'm also used to it taking like fifteen minutes to
get here, so it's gonna be a real adjustment knowing
it's gonna be like an hour of this week, so.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
It took me a couple of minutes to get into
parking to day.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Well, well, Matt, I mean it's the progression of your
game has been incredible watch. It's felt rapid over the
last you know, eleven months or so, but it's been
so cool to watch and like you need more comfortable
in the moment and being able to like, you know,
flip right into that winning mentality on the PGA Tours. Incredible,
So good luck the rest of the way. Excited to
see in the Major's. Excited to see play a gust
(24:38):
and the players and all that stuff and continue to
success because like I said, it's it's been awesome to see.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Yeah, thank you very much for the year.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah, that's Mat McCarty. This is the Ping Proven Grounds Podcast.
The guys from paying They've kind of showed me how
much the equipment matters.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I just love that I can hit any shot.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
I kind of want we're gonna be able to tell
some fun stories about what goes on here to help
golfers play better golf.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Hey, hey, everybody, welcome back to the Pinging proven Grounds podcast.
Shane Bake and Marty Jerts in a second appearance for
mister Mat McCarty. You're like a now a podcast regular.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeah, yeah, no, happy to be back on.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Twenty twenty five. I know this season, I know maybe
you haven't played as good at golf as you play,
But I want to go back to twenty twenty four
for a bit, because you know, you have this breakout,
You're on the corn Ferry Tour, you flip to the
PGA Tour, you win pretty much instantly. Have you had
time to like process twenty twenty four like and just
you do you have time like this winner to just
sit back and go like what I was able to do,
(00:46):
how I was able to play, Like if you had
any time to kind of think about.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
It, Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
I mean I think when you're kind of just going
like that, it just kind of everything happens and you're
just playing good golf and everything kind of snowballs on itself.
But uh yeah, definitely to kind of you know, reminisce
a little bit, but also kind of think about like
what I'm doing well or what I was doing well,
like what I need to kind of keep doing, keep
improving and working on. And uh was a good off season.
A little shorter than I was used to, but that
(01:11):
was all all positive, So it's good.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
What is like the definition of off season Like, yeah, it's.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Only in a few weeks. Yeah, yeah, this year, I
mean it flew by.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
It seemed like it was just like it's six weeks,
but it flew by in a couple So yeah, it
was good. I mean a lot a lot of sitting
on the couch watching football after twenty nine events in
a year.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
But yeah, no, it was fun.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Nice to you know, spend time with family and friends
and just kind of you know, not be bouncing around
city of city every week, is you know, kind of nice.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
But uh yeah, it's good.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
What what what type of practicing training? What did you
kind of do during the off season here?
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I think a lot of just kind of out, you know,
my body was kind of a little run down after
last season, so just trying to kind of recover a
little bit a little bit like strength training, get back
in the gym, lift some weights and but yeah, and
then just kind of give yourself some time to rest,
I think like mentally as well, just kind of turn
turn your prain off from golf a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
But yeah, Yeah, it was good, and I spend the holidays.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And you know, excited to kind of you know, get
going out here too and be right back in it.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
We were talking before you got going about you shooting
fifty nine. You said your fourth professional tournament, Is that
what you said? Or fourth professional round is that right?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Like turn Yeah, fourth professional tournament in the Wyoming stayed open.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yeah, and you said, you know, one of the hardest
things we've talked a lot about. It is a cliche
and professional golfs like the round after and you're like,
you know, you go out there and you shoot even
I'm assuming in a way you start twenty twenty five,
you have this incredible twenty twenty four and it's like
back to the grind, you know. You hear players talk
about the first one on the PGA Tour and then
Thursday comes around and it's you know, you're even again, right,
You're like tied with everybody else. Has it been difficult
(02:43):
to kind of jump start twenty twenty five after what
happened last season or have you been energized to get
the year going now?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
I mean, I think got kicked in the teeth a
little bit early at Centric. I mean, shooting like six
under Friday, I think, and I played okay, and you
just get.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
A lapped by that entire field.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
But uh, yeah, No, it's been good, and I think
it's definitely different out here. You know, the courses are
a little bit more challenging. Obviously, the caliber of other
players is higher.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So yeah, you're a little off out here and you
kind of can get exposed a little bit.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
But you know, it's exciting and dream come true to
be out here, and especially like growing up in Phoenix
and starting on the West Coast swing, like very comfortable,
kind of getting some events in California, went to college
there and haven't really played you know, tournaments there in
the last three years. So it's been been a lot
of fun to kind of be background home and background
a lot of like friends and family.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Two, it has been good.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
You've I think shooting fifty nine, you got the capability
of going low. How does that like? And then you're
talking about century where the scores are really really low, obviously,
talk about that mindset of like continue to make birdies.
I mean when you won last fall, what you were
twenty four under, twenty three I think twenty three under.
So like, just what's it like to kind of be
(03:52):
in those tournaments where you have to keep making birdies,
keep making birdies, shoot six seven unders a day?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Yeah, I mean you kind of just got to keep
looking at the pin and just visualize seeing it go close,
but really like not really kind of think about where
you're at and literally like each hole is kind of
its own thing, and you know, once you get to
like five six seven under, I think that's the thing
that you learn a lot, or at least I learned
a lot on the corn Ferry Tour. I mean, you know,
you shoot three four under out there and you're kind
(04:17):
of getting laps. You kind of got to learn how
to shoot you know, six seven eight nine hunderbar a
lot of times, and you know it's very important to
kind of just keep the pedal down when you're out
there and on a good day and then days when
you're kind off just kind of figure out how to
scrape something around out there.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
What do you think when you look back on twenty
twenty four, the run you had on the corn Ferry Tour,
you win the three times, and then you went on
the PGA Tour, when you took some time to kind
of think back to the season, how I played all
the good stuff? What do you think you did the best? Like,
what was the part of your game mentally, physically, whatever
the case may be that you feel like took you
to that place.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Honestly, I think more than anything, and a lot of
what I've been talking about with like a lot of
people on my team the last few weeks is just
just I was just playing golf, like very simil put
but not like you know, thinking about golf swing, not
thinking about like my stroke putting, but just kind of
trying to visualize each shot, commit and just kind of
hit it as close as you can, try.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
To make the ball in the hole as quickly as possible.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
But I mean, just that joy that comes with that
of just playing the game, and just playing golf in
general I think is super important for me. But also
like to have success and just kind of that freedom
that comes with that is uh usually the best thing
for me.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I mean, like Marty, we had this window. You know,
we're do the Corn Ferry Tour, you know, on TV,
and I remember mad I think he won a couple
of times at this point. Maybe we're like in Utah
or something, and we have him in the window, and
I was pumped because, like, you've been played so well,
and you know, I've known Mat for a while and
you played okay in the opening round. You might have
shot like one under and like all right, you know,
I mean it's fine. You know, he's having a good
season whatever. Like the next day you shot like ten under,
(05:47):
and I'm like, oh, I he is having fun. Like
this is really fun right now. When you're able to
even when the round's not going your way or the
opening round's not going your way, you were able to
kind of like walk back in And that stretch has
to be the best golf you played in your life,
that run on the Corn Fairy.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Yeah, and I think too, like like you said, I mean,
you shoot like one under the first round on pretty
easy course in Utah, and it's like you can't put
too much emphasis on like how you're playing, Like sometimes
you play good and you just kind of the scores
aren't there, and then it's like, you know, you come
out the next day, and that's a great part about
golf is you know you always got another chance the
next day and a ton of rounds out here. So yeah,
(06:20):
it's definitely good, but that mindset's definitely super important.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Now, tell us a little bit about the week at
the Black Dozer Championship, Like showed up at the course.
It's a course nobody had played before. I know, watching
it on TV, it was amazing. You know when did
you start feeling good? Was it in the practice rounds?
After the first round? Yeah, I mean about that week.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
The place is just visually very cool, like to look
at kind of the course, Like I felt good that
it was like an even playing field. I think like
a lot of these events early in the year too,
is like a lot of these guys have been out here,
you know, ten fifteen years and very comfortable with the
golf course. So kind of having that start of like
on a level playing field, and I felt like I
honestly a little bit of advantage like growing up in
(07:01):
the desert kind of a lot of like weird blind
t shots. You know, if you hit it offline, you're
not gonna find that golf ball. So very comfortable, like
you know environment in that aspect, but also like the
golf course itself, and then you know the weather is
a little you know, warm kind of you hit a
high one, the ball really goes. So growing up here,
you know, in Phoenix was definitely like very similar and yeah,
(07:24):
and that part of Utah is great. Like me and
my girlfriend went on trip to Zion a couple of
years ago, so I'd been up there before with the
Red Rocks and loved it, and yeah, it was just
just a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I mean, how much are vibes important to playing good golf?
Like you go to a place the week's going, well,
maybe the girlfriend's there with you, Like I feel like
you're a vibes guy in general, Like are vibes massively
important for having a good week? Or can you show
up to place the golf where you don't love and
you're not it's not in your game? You can still
play that type of place?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Well, yeah, I mean I think it's fifty to fifty.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Like I think when you're comfortable, like having fun off
the course that week is definitely a lot easier. I
think a place that my vibes were pretty low was
at Colorado for TBC Colorado for the corn Ferry Event.
I'd missed the cut there two years first two years
out and then this year, you know, I think set
their fifty four hole scoring record, had like a three
shot lead.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So early into the last round.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
But like you know, when you kind of conquer a
place that you don't feel comfortable at too, that's you know,
kind of gets it going as well, and kind of
that kind of gave me some confidence. Even though I
didn't win that week, definitely gave me a lot of
confidence kind of moving forward and the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
But yeah, I mean it's always fun, like when you're.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
You know, being in San Diego is a lot better
than being in Springfield, Illinois.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So the vibes has been a lot better out here
onto it last.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
But what's been the biggest change? I Mean, we ask
players they graduate from the Corn Ferry Tour to the
PJA Tour this a lot, like what's the one thing
that stood out or what's the one thing that's been
mastly different? As you've kind of started twenty twenty five,
and you've got a chance to play in some of
the really big boy events. Like what's the thing? Doesn't
necessarily have to be a big thing, but what's something
that stood out to you that's wow, this is way
(09:01):
different than what I've experienced a pro golfer at this point.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
I mean, honestly, just playing against the guys that you
watch on TV is the biggest thing. Getting the courtesy
car straight out of the airport is like one of
the little things that I think that's the nicest, not having.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
To drop it all, like what do you get it?
Speaker 4 (09:16):
It's different every week, but it's just kind of there
about it.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
But if we're about a rental car, I don't if
we're about riding with other people, like my car is here?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, no more Avis lines is really nice.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
But uh but yeah, I would say just like the
golf courses has been the biggest difference for sure. I
mean a little bit more demanding off the tee always.
They've been a little bit firmer out here for sure,
So like kind of puts a premium on ball striking.
But also I like, you know, you kind of got
to think your way around it a little bit more
less like kind of point shoot, try to go absolutely
ballistic every week, which is nice, but definitely an adjustment
(09:50):
and you know, kind of a learning experience for sure.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
At the Black Desert Championship, I'm curious to get your
take on this, but I read a stat it had
the highest fairway hip percentage but also the most provisionals
off the tea. Yeah, did you have to hit any
provisionals that week?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I did not. We did not find the desert.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Actually, the only time I did find the desert was
with like a fifty degree from a bunker, just kind
of bladed it.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
But nothing off the tee. So usually pretty accurate. Soay's
one of my strikes out there.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
But yeah, the fairways were wide, but it's a very
visually intimidating golf course and there's like four or five
out there that you really got to hit well or
else you're kind of in the lava and you know
you're never gonna find it.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Like like confidence wise, I mean again kind of like
following you throughout the season, like Corn Ferry Tour and
just seeing you, like when when when play well, even
when you weren't winning, you were having high finishes like
I go to the eighteenth hole on Sunday and the
way you were able to kind of close that thing out.
It's a par five again. You know, if you spray it,
it can get you in trouble. I think you might
have had what a one or two shot maybe a
two shot lead at that point. Yeah, and it's like
(10:52):
smoke a tea shot and then you hit that second
shot to what like ten feet fifteen feet for eagle.
It's just to me, it like encapsulated your year. Is
my confidence in my game to be able to close
something out like that?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, And I think that's a big part of it.
I mean you got to kind of stay aggressive. You
get a little timid out there, and you know, you
try to play a little conservative, and then if that
shot that you're hitting conservative doesn't go well puts you
in more of a bad spot. You're better off kind
of just trying to get it as close as you
can and make the next one a little bit as easier.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
But that was definitely my mindset.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
I'm like, you know, I could hit threw it off
this tea, but then I got, you know, another longer
iron in and it hit my driver. Well, so kind
of get as close as possible, and you know, being
able to be on that green in two and you know,
being able like four or five butt to win was
definitely very sure. I could let myself relaxed.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah yeah, you can actually smile on the walk up.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Matt, tell us a little bout what's going on in
your bag? You still rolling the tyn Cee Center shafting.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yeah, yeah, not much has changed obviously, like the new
wood's coming out, so.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Kind of been tinking around.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Finally figured it out, you know, how to week kind
of with the short offseason was kind of tough to
you know, not playing a lot to kind of really
you know, trust something in the bag. But after this
last week, you know, being back in Phoenix and going
out to ping, you know Thursday, you know, the boys
got me dialed again and the new driver has been
great and spinning a little bit less, launched a little
(12:14):
higher for me, which is great, and you know, gained
some distance.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
A little bit of speed.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
So was the four lst Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I
went I went down to the nine and then kind
of I like seeing loft, so went back up to
the ten to five, turned it down. It's at about
nine and a half added a little hot melt, you know,
got I didn't. I grew up a lefty kind of
just playing whatever. So I've been learning a little bit
about kind of tinkering around with some clubs. But uh yeah,
(12:39):
the guys here are awesome and you know, kind of
get it, get you going and put you in that perfect,
perfect zone.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
So it's been good.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Sw Yeah, being a lefty growing up and you're like,
just use this.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I guess this is the club.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I'm going to use it.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I'll just make it sing. It's just so fun that now.
I mean even with four forty, it's like the four
wood and the seven would the nine, with like all
the options for a lefty golfer being the same as
a I mean, it definitely feels different thanhen we were
like teenagers.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You know. Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
That's kind of been a big thing for me, like
the last three or four years of just kind of
learning about the equipment and you can, you know, if
you kind of want to make the ball do something,
you can have that advantage, you know, just based on
the club that you're using.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So it's been nice for sure.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Have you been able to have some fun, like I mean,
you have this crazy twenty twenty four and then you
kind of run right into twenty twenty five. Like, have
you stepped away from the game at all and been
able to like enjoy it or go do anything or
has it mostly been chilling, relaxed and just preparing for
the season.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Yeah, a little bit of both.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Me and my girlfriend took a really nice trip for
like a week in Montana this winter, So that was nice.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Just like you guys are like, you're like not beach.
I mean you're like going to the Zion National Park
in Montana, Like that's your.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Yeah, So like you know, likes doing hikes and stuff
like that, and you know, we're going to Maui, you know,
for New Year's so we figured we had the beach
covered and it was kind of cool to do something
like that. And you know, it's been a while since
I had, you know, been on a plane without the clubs,
which is always a nice feel.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
It feels like you're always like forgetting a bunch of stuff.
But it was nice.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
You got a sciar snowboarder.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Not anymore. I haven't been in a while. I'm too
afraid I'm gonna hurt myself.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Smart. Smart, you don't want to do that and you'll
like just waste a year because you have an AHBL
injury or something silly. The win, obviously, you get into
a lot of these major championships. So I mean you're
looking ahead of twenty twenty five. I know Phoenix has
been big for you in terms of circling and just
because you grew up here and you've been out to
the Phoenix Open a whole bunch. So I want to
talk to you about that a little bit. But as
(14:26):
we inch closer to augusta like, is it on the brain?
Do you think about it? Have you got a chance
to go out there and play around at the golf
course yet?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I haven't been out yet. I've been thinking about it
kind of.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
I was thinking about it last week and maybe in
another week if the weather kind of turns.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
But I think it's snowed there like a week and
a half ago.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I was like, I don't know if that's probably not
a good practice round the show.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
You're ready for me yet?
Speaker 4 (14:46):
But uh no, I'm definitely circled on the calendar, and
you know with the US Open, the players and the
PGA as well, and you know, waste is kind of
you know, this environment I feel like is you know,
I'm gonna feel very similar to that outre as I will,
you know, those weeks so kind of good prep that week,
you know, to kind of get those nerves going a
little bit and that excitement, you know.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
But yeah, definitely excited to go out there.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And kind of see it and you know, step on
the grounds out there would be very special for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
What was your first Phoenix Open experience? Like, do you
remember how old you were whatever when you came up
with the Press.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I mean we moved here from Seattle, and I was
like ten or eleven, and I think I came out
here every year, so I was, you know, eleven twelve.
We'd do like, you know, probably a little bit too
young at that point to do the standard baron, but
just following my dad around watching guys hit balls put
you know. Obviously kind of once I got a little older,
weaseled my way into sixteen in that atmosphere. So uh yeah,
(15:41):
I mean, growing up out here, I think that's kind
of a big part of like what I think about
golf and like that it's fun and it's nice when
you see the guys kind of like buy into that atmosphere,
and I think this is one of the most well
run tournaments of the year and just kind of you
know how how much like the community here builds it
up and you know, the support.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
For it obviously, but also like just the atmosphere.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
It feels like you're you know, just played, you know,
played the back nine out there today and.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
You know sixteen.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I mean that's how you got to feel like when
you're playing an NBA game or an NFL game or something,
it's just insane.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
It's a different feeling.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
So but yeah, it's a lot of fun and just
like golf should be fun, and especially like when you're
doing it at a high level like this, to have
that many people out you know, watching your plays a
really cool thing.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Were you did you do Standard Bear?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Yeah, in a few years growing up. So my biggest
memories Ken Duke. I think he was just nice, Like,
you know, a lot of the guys locked in all
the time, and I especially out here, you kind of got.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
To put your blinders on a little bit.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
But I mean he was just like, you know, chopping
it up with us down the fairways and stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
So I remember that He's just a great dude. So yeah, yeah,
that's the goal for the week.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, for me, I did as a kid a few times,
and for me it was Calcri. Yeah, he was so
nice to us, you know, so I always remember that.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
But yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Always remember both, right, I mean, because like I know,
the guys like when I was a kid that were
really nice, and then I remember the guys that weren't
so nice. You know, like you kind of remember both ways.
But it was definitely as well.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
But yeah, no, it's cool, and like I mean, growing
up out here, I don't feel that far removed from
being a kid and wanting an autograph and getting a
ball from someone, So yeah, to kind of have you know,
it's pretty surreal that you know, they want my stuff now,
But I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
It's it's it's definitely a very cool feeling for sure.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
How about how the course plays, Like, you know, you've
obviously played it casually a bunch of times and then
here it is you're you played during the tournament. Things
are a little more spicy. What are the biggest differences
you're noticing? Course set up?
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, it's just a lot firmer.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
You know, played out here a lot in December and
you know they kind of protected a little bit, keep
it a little hair softer. Yeah, so it's definitely gonna
have a little bit more spiciness to it this week
for sure. But yeah, it's kind of nice because I
think it's a fairly long golf course, especially when it's soft,
so like if you're hitting in the fairways out here,
you can actually give yourself a lot more wedges and
(18:03):
a little bit more kind of like scoring opportunities.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
When it's firm like this, you know, part fives.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Get a little bit more manageable, but then at the
same time, those part threes get a little bit more
intimidating when you're coming in with like a five six
iron and the greens are concrete.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
So it'll be a fun week.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I always so felt like the part threes here are
like a lot tougher than we give them credit for.
You you know, I mean you think about like I mean,
the ones on the back nine. I mean, it's not
they're not cake holes. I mean obviously, I mean if
you were playing sixteen casually with some buddies and you're
hitting wedge and it's whatever, But the fact that you
know it's in that tournament environ, like you said, the
NBA's level environment. I just feel like I feel like
that's the part of this golf course that can eat
(18:38):
you up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, yeah for sure.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
And like I mean, being very comfortable out here, like
just playing it a lot. It's definitely a lot different,
you know, when the stands are up and people around
and you know, I haven't played a tournament round yet,
but there's more people out here on a Tuesday today.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Than you said.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Fifty people are cheering, you're on your second ball. You're like,
thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
That's very fun. Yeah, first one in the water. But yeah,
I appreciate.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I mean, I'm assuming, and I mean again, you know,
we've talked about this, you know, like Max Home, I
mean wins at Riviera and he talked about like that
was his tournament, you know, growing up. And I mean,
I think golf fans, you know, somebody like me who
thinks about golfers, we always think, oh, man, this person
wants to win the US Open, if this person wants
to win the Masters, Like, yeah, of course you want
to win that. But I feel like every golfer's kind
of got that one tournament. It might not be the
(19:23):
one we think it is. That's close to their heart.
It might have been the one they went to when
they were a kid. And I mean I can only
imagine for you the moment you get that PGA Tour card.
You're circling Scott Stale like you know, when it is
on the schedule and you know you're gonna get an
opportunity to play.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Yeah, I mean that was like, now you got to
finish number one on the corn for it to actually
get in this field.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
So that was kind that was kind of like a
big job on that big part of my goal for
the year.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
But yeah, this is you know, outside of the majors,
this is the biggest tournament of the year for me, Like,
you know, I want to play well and you know,
show the home crowd something and prove that I can,
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Play well out here. And uh yeah obviously.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
And I think too, like with the stands and you
know kind of coming down the stretch out here, if
you're in contention, it's got to be the closest atmosphere
to like that major championship pressure just with all the
people and.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Kind of everything going on.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
So I think there's a lot of you know, a
lot of the past champions out here. Obviously it's like Scottie,
but even like Brooks and like their success after they
kind of their breakthrough win was out here. I think
a lot of it is because of that. If you're
kind of able to handle this environment, I think you
should be able to play in anything.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
So I think that's kind of a cool aspect of
it as well. For sure, what.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Other events are you looking forward to? I mean, obviously
we talked about Augusta. What other events are you Are
you allowing yourself to think about the rest of the
year much or you're trying to stay a little bit
more in the present, And if so, what other events
out there on the calendar do you have kind of
ear marked?
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Yeah, I mean I think the players will be a
really special week. I think for a lot of the guys,
just talking to them like that seems like it's just
an awesome week.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
I played Sagress. A lot of my girlfriend's family lives in.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Jacks, so, oh nice steel, pretty comfortable with that place,
a little bit pretty similar though. I always kind of
played it when it's very soft, so I think it's
gonna be a different animal when it's firm and the
roughs up out there but yeah, I mean trying to
kind of keep it like one week at a time.
I think this West Coast Swing I was very excited for.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
I mean being at Tory two weeks ago was really cool,
Like you know, grew up going out there.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
I watched the US Open in UH eight when Tiger
won obviously, ye, so just kind of being at some
places that you've watched on TVs like very cool.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
But yeah, Toy was a pretty pretty sweet week. And
but yeah, this, you know, being home in Phoenix and
getting to play the waist is pretty pretty awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Well, I mean it feels like, you know, you think
about what they've done now with the players, and I'd
say the players and like the Ryder Cup are probably
the two events closest to this one. You know, in Phoenix,
I mean it's it's raucous. There's people out there, they're
excited to be there. The crowds are big, like they
do an amazing job with that tournament.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
It's I think when you prepare an alternate like that,
like you were talking about in Phoenix, it's like when
the event's that well done, it feels bigger even for
the players, not just for the fans.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You know, yeah, yeah, and I was.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
I was playing with a good buddy, Mackmizer today and
you know, he didn't play in this event last year,
but like, you know, we walked through sixteen and he's like,
this is crazy, you know, like, yeah, it's like on
a Tuesday, it's crazy being inside, but even when you're
sitting in the stands, it's not.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Too so like, but yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
And I think, like, you know, when you got like
big time like events like this, like you know, it
shows kind of that. I don't think the tour is
in the bat of a spot as you know, all
this stuff that's going around lately, but it shows that,
like when you put on like a really good event,
you get people excited about it, people are gonna care
and a lot of the good players are going to
show up too.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
So I think that's important for sure.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I like it, Phoenix. Just the involvement of the Junior Golf,
you know, the standard bearers, you get the kids out,
the JJA is involved. Did you play JJA grown up
as a.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Kid, Yeah, yeah, JJ played all over the valley. I
actually I never really played stadium that much growing up.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
I mean it's too expensive.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Yeah, you know, it's like fifteen bucks for us to
play Champions in the afternoon. I grew up fifteen minutes
from here, but I played that place like two hundred
and fifty times. I didn't really play out here till
you know, getting status on corn Ferry and was able
to kind of you know, play and practice out here.
So that definitely felt like kind of like a special
thing for me too. So it's to be able to
play a vetting out here is definitely, you know, kind
of next step of that.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
You said you've been in you've been in the area
of the last couple of weeks. Whence you get back
back from Tory.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
You were back in Arizona, come back after Tory, and
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Do you do you have your checklist of like I've
got to go eat here, I've got to go to
this place.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Yeah, yeah, hit basically all my favorite spots already. So
uh yeah, we're good.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
I've been eating well all week and honestly, just you know,
being at home with my mom and kind of sleeping
in the bed I grew up in.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
But having some home cooked meals is nice too after
being on the road.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
That's got to be kind of surreal, Right, You're like,
this is the house, this is the bed. Now I'm
playing in the golf tournament. You know, like all of
these kind of mixed emotions. I'm sure it's got to
be exciting, but it's also kind of got a feel
while I'm sure you have moments throughout the week where
you're kind of like, what the hell's going on here?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
You know?
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Yeah, yeah, no, it is crazy and like, you know,
pulling into my house, like the courtesy cars definitely different feeling.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Marty said he when he played at the Phoenix, somebody
said he was driving down his neighborhood and the courtesy car.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yeah, so it's a weird feeling, but.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
I'm also used to it taking like fifteen minutes to
get here, so it's gonna be a real adjustment knowing
it's gonna be like an hour of this week, so.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
It took me a couple of minutes to get into
parking to day.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Well, well, Matt, I mean it's the progression of your
game has been incredible watch. It's felt rapid over the
last you know, eleven months or so, but it's been
so cool to watch and like you need more comfortable
in the moment and being able to like, you know,
flip right into that winning mentality on the PGA Tours. Incredible,
So good luck the rest of the way. Excited to
see in the Major's. Excited to see play a gust
(24:38):
and the players and all that stuff and continue to
success because like I said, it's it's been awesome to see.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Yeah, thank you very much for the year.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah, that's Mat McCarty. This is the Ping Proven Grounds Podcast.
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