Matt McCarty’s impressive performance at the 2024 Black Desert Championship has put him in the lead with a stellar 19-under score at the end of the third round. Trailing closely behind is fellow left-hander Joe Highsmith, who shares the T2 spot with Kevin Streelman, Harris English, and Stephan Jaeger. If both McCarty and Highsmith hold their positions through Sunday, they’ll achieve a rare feat not seen since 2018—two left-handed golfers taking the top two spots at a PGA event.
The last time this happened was at Pebble Beach in 2018, where lefty Ted Potter Jr. clinched victory, with Phil Mickelson finishing tied for second. That historic moment saw Potter outshine big names like Dustin Johnson and Jason Day, ending with a 17-under score, just as McCarty aims to do in his second PGA Tour appearance. McCarty earned his spot on the Tour through the Korn Ferry Tour’s three-win promotion, and while his PGA debut at the Sanderson Farms Championship ended with a T63 finish, he’s rebounding at Black Desert Resort, showcasing his skill with two eagles and 19 birdies across three rounds.
As the final round looms, fans are eagerly watching to see if McCarty and Highsmith can repeat this left-handed legacy.
