PGA Tour pro reacts to nearly (!) the sickest 59 of all time at Travelers
PGA Tour pro Denny McCarthy almost joined the 59 club in the most awesome way possible at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.
As far as chances at 59 go, Denny McCarthy might've just had the most exciting one to date.
This week the PGA Tour is in Connecticut for the annual Travelers Championship. This year, the tournament has designated event status, meaning it holds a lucrative $20m purse and the top players make up the field.
McCarthy is one of those top players, currently having his best season yet with a career-high ranking of No. 33 in the world.
A few weeks ago, the 30-year-old nearly won his maiden PGA Tour title at Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament, but ultimately lost to Viktor Hovland in a playoff.
Then just last week, he notched a respectable tie for 20th at the US Open - his second-best major championship result to date.
Now, just a few days following the conclusion at Los Angeles Country Club, McCarthy's solid play has continued - even having a chance at 59.
The American opened his round at the Travelers on Thursday with four straight birdies after starting on the back nine at TPC River Highlands.
He made one more birdie to card a 5-under par 30 at the turn. Keeping pace, he then opened his next nine holes with another three consecutive birdies and was already 8-under par through just 12 holes.
By the time he reached the par-4 9th - his final hole of the day - McCarthy was 9-under par and had a chance at a 59 on the par-70 layout.
However, those chances were slim, because it would require that he made eagle at the 403-yard 9th.
McCarthy's first shot on the hole landed in the fairway, but it still left him with 167 yards to the pin for a 59.
Miraculously, McCarthy almost did it!
Gripping down on a 7-iron, his shot ran right by the hole, coming within inches of a hole-out eagle for quite possible the most exciting way to capture a 59.
Here's the incredible clip:
SO CLOSE! @_DennyMcCarthy nearly holes out for eagle at the final hole for a 59! pic.twitter.com/qDJbfvAWg7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 22, 2023
Instead, he tapped in a 5-footer for birdie and settled for a new career-low score on the PGA Tour with a 10-under par 60.
"We were just going off the crowd's reaction at that point," McCarthy told reporters afterwards, who was unable to see the hole from the fairway. "Obviously it came pretty close to going in. In the air I wasn't expecting it to be anywhere close to going in, but obviously it was exciting that it had a chance."
He added:
McCarthy's 60 on Thursday also gave him the solo lead after round one was completed. He'll take a two-stroke edge over Keegan Bradley into round two.
Lead Image: PGA Tour/Twitter
