SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's golf alum Matt McCarty is showing no signs of slowing down in his second full season on the PGA Tour. The 2021 graduate already has another top-five finish under his belt just two events into the 2026 season after tying for runner-up at The American Express held at PGA WEST at the La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, Calif. It is the second-best finish of McCarty's young PGA Tour career.

A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., McCarty shot 23-under par with a 63-66-68-68--265 total to put himself in a four-way tie for runner-up honors alongside Jason Day, Ryan Gerard and Andrew Putnam. The quartet finished four strokes shy of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who continued his dominance on the PGA Tour with his 20th career title after turning in a 27-under 261. 

A three-time All-WCC performer during his time with the Broncos, McCarty has made the cut in both events he's played in to open the new year and has already earned $637,330. He has played in 33 career PGA Tour events with five top-10 finishes, including four inside the top-five and a victory at the 2024 Black Desert Championship. McCarty became the first Santa Clara alum to play in all four majors last season and had a memorable turn at the 2025 Masters Tournament with a tie for 14th at 3-under 285. 

McCarty will look to keep the momentum rolling at the Farmers Insurance Open Jan. 29-Feb. 1 at Torrey Pines.