Denny McCarthy Facts: 20 Things You Didn't Know About The PGA Tour Player
Discover more about American pro, Denny McCarthy's life and career so far via these facts

Denny McCarthy is one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour who has carved out his place near the top thanks to an outstanding putting stroke. Discover more about his life and career so far via these facts.
Denny McCarthy Facts
1. Denny McCarthy was born on March 4, 1993 in Takoma Park, Maryland.
2. His full name is Denny Francis McCarthy.
3. McCarthy went to Georgetown Prep school outside Washington, D.C and played varsity golf and basketball. He played guard for his high school basketball team for four years.
4. He has one brother and two sisters. His brother is called Ryan while his two sisters are called Cristina and Michaela. Christina, played lacrosse at James Madison while Michaela plays lacrosse at Virginia Tech.
5. McCarthy comes from a golfing family, with his brother Ryan playing golf at Loyola University in Maryland and his uncle, Mike McCarthy, playing golf at James Madison University in Virginia.
6. McCarthy is a cousin of well-known stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, Greg Fitzsimmons.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
7. The American played college golf at the University of Virginia where he was a two-time All-American.
8. McCarthy enjoyed a great amateur career, and actually featured in the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup team, playing alongside the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Ollie Schniederjans.
9. He is a three-time winner of the Maryland Open (2010, 2013, 2015) - with all his victories arriving as an amateur.
10. McCarthy's hobbies include table tennis, basketball, anything outdoors, the beach and ping-pong.
Denny McCarthy with his 2015 Walker Cup teammates
11. As well as the Junior Ryder Cup, he featured in the victorious United States team at the 2014 Eisenhower Trophy, playing with the likes of Beau Hossler and Bryson DeChambeau. McCarthy was the only American to shoot in the 60s across all four days.
12. As an amateur, he finished T42nd at the 2015 US Open - which was held at Chambers Bay.
13. After playing in the 2015 Walker Cup, which the US won, McCarthy turned professional, plying his trade on the Korn Ferry Tour.
14. McCarthy gained his PGA Tour card for the 2017-18 season with a 12th-place finish on the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour Money List.
15. The American is married to Samantha (nee Marzke), with the couple owning two dogs, Juno and Dublin.
A post shared by Denny McCarthy (@mccarthy_denny)
A photo posted by on
16. In his debut season on the PGA Tour, McCarthy finished outside the top-125 of the FedEx Cup playoffs. The following year, the American finished number one on the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour Money List, earning exempt status on the PGA Tour for the 2018-19 season.
17. At the 2021 Players Championship, McCarthy made a hole-in-one at the par-3 third hole in his second round.
18. He is yet to win on the PGA Tour but came agonizingly close at both the 2023 Memorial and the 2024 Valero Texas Open. McCarthy lost to Viktor Hovland in a playoff at The Memorial while, after making birdie on the final seven holes of the Texas Open, McCarthy once again fell in a playoff against Akshay Bhatia.
19. McCarthy has become known as one of the best putters on the planet. He led the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting, for two consecutive seasons up to 2020, with that season's performance ranking as the second-best putting season of the ShotLink era (since 2004). Between 2022 and 2024, he ranked either second or third for SG: Putting on the PGA Tour (2021-22 - 2nd, 2022-23 - 3rd, 2024 - 2nd).
20. At the end of the 2024 season, McCarthy’s best finish in a Major was a tie for 7th in the 2022 US Open.
Hole-in-one for Denny McCarthy! 🤩He was 750/1 to win THE PLAYERS before Round 1. He’s currently 1 shot off the lead 🏌🏾♂️pic.twitter.com/ySVXtxza5QMarch 12, 2021
Denny McCarthy Bio
Full Name | Denny Francis McCarthy |
Born | March 4, 1993 - Takoma Park, Maryland |
Height | 5ft 9in (1.75 m) |
College | University of Virginia |
Turned Professional | 2015 |
Former Tour | Web.com Tour (Korn Ferry Tour) |
Current Tour | PGA Tour |
Pro Wins | 4 |
Highest Major Finish | T7th (2022 US Open) |
Highest OWGR | 29th |
Denny McCarthy Pro Wins
Tour | Event | Winning Score |
---|---|---|
Maryland State Golf Association | 2010 Maryland Open* | -8 (two strokes) |
Maryland State Golf Association | 2013 Maryland Open* | -7 (one stroke) |
Maryland State Golf Association | 2015 Maryland Open* | -6 (two strokes) |
Web.com Tour | 2018 Web.com Tour Championship | -23 (four strokes) |
*won as an amateur
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
- Matt CradockStaff Writer
-
Michael Kim Facts: 10 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Michael Kim had a successful college career before building a solid reputation in the professional game - here are 10 things you may not know about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
Who Are The Oldest LPGA Major Winners?
Age is just a number when it comes to greatness in golf, but who holds the record as the oldest women's Major winner?
By Alison Root Published
-
Michael Kim Facts: 10 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Michael Kim had a successful college career before building a solid reputation in the professional game - here are 10 things you may not know about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
Justin Lower Facts: 15 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro
Justin Lower overcame tragedy to and near-misses to eventually establish himself on the PGA Tour - here are 15 things to know about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
Who Is Max Greyserman's Caddie?
After a spell with James Moreno, Max Greyserman's has turned to Adam Parmer as his PGA Tour career progresses
By Mike Hall Published
-
Who Is Ben Griffin’s Caddie?
The American has had one caddie alongside him throughout his PGA Tour career, Alex Ritthamel – get to know him here
By Mike Hall Published
-
Who Is Matt McCarty’s Caddie?
Matt McCarty's caddie is not just playing a pivotal role in his success on the course - he's also a close friend off it
By Mike Hall Published
-
Who Is Maverick McNealy's Caddie?
The PGA Tour pro turned to his brother Scout in 2024, and that has coincided with the best run of form of his career
By Mike Hall Published
-
Eila Galitsky Facts: 10 Things To Know About The College Golfer
The University of South Carolina player is making a big impression on the game, including in one of the Majors - here are 10 things to know about her
By Mike Hall Published
-
Amanda Sambach Facts: 10 Things To Know About The College Golfer
The University of Virginia's Amanda Sambach has been a keen golfer since she was five - here are 10 things to know about her
By Mike Hall Published