Consistency and resilience are the keys to success. No one knows this better than Denny McCarthy. It took the 31 YO a lot to get into the PGA Tour. After competing in the 2015 Walker Cup, which the U.S. team won, McCarthy turned professional and began his career on the Korn Ferry Tour. He secured his PGA Tour card for the 2017-18 season by finishing 12th on the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour Money List. Now his goal is to grab a victory on the Tour. He has played for seven or eight seasons on the Tour and is still winless. But that is not a testament to his exceptional game. Here is all you need to know about Denny McCarthy.

Denny McCarthy and his family’s relation with Athletics

Denny Francis McCarthy was born on March 4, 1993, in Takoma Park, Maryland. His parents are Dennis McCarthy and Elena McCarthy. They are both College Park, Maryland locals and have been a guiding source in McCarthy’s professional career. His father was the one who recognized his son’s passion for the sport from an early age and encouraged him to practice regularly. Elena McCarthy went to the Regina High School in Hyattsville and then pursued her bachelor’s from the University of Maryland. 

Denny McCarthy is the youngest of three siblings. He also has a brother Ryan McCarthy, who played golf at Loyola Maryland University. His two sisters, Cristina and Michaela, were also involved in athletics. Cristina played lacrosse at the James Madison, and Michaela played at the Virginia Tech. Golf is deep in the blood of McCarthy. Even his uncle, Mike McCarthy played golf at the James Madison University. Apart from Denny McCarthy’s parents, there was another person who stood rock solid beside him through the years.

Denny McCarthy and Samantha McCarthy dated each other for more than a decade. While how they met and when exactly they started dating have not been disclosed, McCarthy has time and again stated the importance of her presence throughout his professional journey. The couple got engaged on May 16, 2018, and tied the knot on December 15, 2023. Samantha, an expert in waterfront and coastal properties from Jupiter, Florida, is now on a journey of love and collaboration with McCarthy. Beyond her professional pursuits, she plays a vital role in supporting McCarthy’s golfing career, offering him strength and encouragement along the way. While the couple has yet to declare their plans to have children, they already have two dogs together – Juno and Dublin.

Denny McCarthy was not always into golf. He went to the Georgetown Prep School outside Washington DC. He was into varsity golf and basketball back then. For his school, he played guard for the basketball team for four years. The 31 YO enjoys any sport that has to be played outdoors and also has a knack for the beach and ping-pong. However, it was golf that fascinated him the most, and his family was always supporting him for it. 

Denny McCarthy’s journey to the PGA Tour

Denny McCarthy played varsity golf at Georgetown Preparatory School in 2010 and represented the Junior Ryder Cup team alongside Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. He went on to play collegiate golf at the University of Virginia, where he was a two-time All-American. As a senior at the University of Virginia, McCarthy led the U.S. team to victory at the 2014 World Amateur Team Championship. Competing alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Beau Hossler, he was the only American to shoot in the 60s on all four days of the event.

McCarthy achieved significant amateur success, winning the Maryland Amateur in consecutive years (2013 and 2014) and the Maryland Open three times. Additionally, he tied for 42nd place at the 2015 U.S. Open. Shortly after his amateur career, McCarthy began competing on the Web.com Tour. He earned his PGA Tour card for the 2017-2018 season after finishing 12th on the Korn Ferry Tour money list. The next year, he once again played for the Korn Ferry Tour to earn his Tour card for the upcoming season finishing at the top of the list. The 31 YO also has one finish on the Korn Ferry Tohr, and his best finish was at the 2022 US Open (T7). He also bagged the second position at the 2023 Memorial Tournament, losing to Viktor Hovland in a Sunday Playoff.