It was the end of the third round at the 2024 Black Desert Championship. The left-handed golfer Matt McCarty had just holed the ball for a birdie at the par-5, 4th hole at the Black Desert Resort. By doing so, he managed to lead the scorecard while Joe Highsmith trailed behind at T2. But little did they know that by topping the leaderboard after the Saturday round, the duo might be able to repeat a feat that Phil Mickelson had carded 6 years ago.

At the end of the third round, McCarty was able to claim the top spot with a figure of 19-under overall. His fellow left-handed athlete Highsmith tied at T2 with three other professionals, including Kevin Streelman, Harris English, and Stephan Jaeger. Interestingly, if the two keep their positions even after the end of the event, then this would be the first time since 2018 that two left-handers manage to claim the title of champion and the runner-up position!

Let us travel back to 2018 for a bit. Yes, to the exact event at Pebble Beach Golf Course that saw Phil Mickelson claim the second spot while Ted Potter, Jr. emerged victorious. Just like the current situation, Potter Jr. was also a left-handed golfer like the now-LIV Golf Pro. And he clinched the victory by carding a 17-under 270 with scores of 68-71-62-69 over the four days of play.

Phil Mickelson, on the other hand, finished T2 alongside three other athletes, including Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, and Chez Reavie. He was only able to put up a figure of 14 under 273 owing to numbers 69-65-73-67 that he carded over the four rounds. And that became one of his many (read: 38) T2 placements over the 666 PGA Tour events he played in his career.

Phil Mickelson would have kept on playing on the men’s circuit had it not been for him joining the Saudi-backed league back in 2022. As a result, he was banned from playing on the PGA Tour, following which he led the HyFlyers GC in the inaugural season of LIV Golf. Coming back to the Black Desert Championship, if Matt McCarty is to replicate a 6-year-old history, then he will have to emerge victorious at his second PGA Tour event.

Matt McCarty in hopes of victory at his second start

Yes, you read that right! The golfer is currently leading the scoreboard in his second start as a PGA Tour Pro after earning a card through the three-win promotion from the Korn Ferry Tour. He was one of the thirteen athletes who graduated to the Jay Monahan-led circuit to tee off at the Sanderson Farms Championship. However, he could only finish at a dismal T63 after scoring an 8-under overall. But no worries; it was just his first start after all.

Fast forward to the Black Desert Championship, and he is currently at T1 with a figure of 19-under after putting up scores of 62-68-64 over the three rounds. He did so by dishing out a total of 19 birdies and four bogeys, not to mention the two eagles he carded on Day 1 and Day 3. His fans would surely hope he wins the event. Fingers crossed!