McCarty won the inaugural Black Desert Championship in October, securing his first victory in just his third PGA TOUR event
IVINS, Utah – Less than three months after winning the inaugural Black Desert Championship for his first PGA TOUR victory in just his third career start, Matt McCarty has officially signed a two-year agreement to represent the golf course and resort that will forever hold a special place in his memory.
Under the new deal, McCarty will proudly display the Black Desert Resort logo on his right sleeve, debuting his new look when he tees off in the first round of The Sentry on January 2 at 8:45 a.m. Hawaii time.
“Partnering with Black Desert Resort was a no-brainer after I secured my first PGA TOUR win there in October,” McCarty said. “The golf course is sick, and totally unlike anywhere else I have ever played. I’m looking forward to defending my title at the Black Desert Championship this fall and truly appreciate the support of everyone at Black Desert Resort. They have treated me like family, which played a big part in me wanting to team up with them and proudly represent the resort throughout my first full season on tour and beyond.”
McCarty started the 2024 season on the Korn Ferry Tour, and earned eligibility for all 2024 FedExCup Fall events via the KFT’s three-victory promotion after he hoisted three trophies on the developmental tour between June and August. Once he arrived in Utah, he shot rounds of 62, 68, 64 and 67, winning the Black Desert Championship by three strokes.
The 26-year-old Scottsdale native was the unanimous winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award as the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year. By finishing No. 1 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, McCarty earned fully exempt status for the 2025 PGA TOUR season, as well as exemptions for the 2025 U.S. Open and 2025 PLAYERS Championship. His victory in the Utah desert also earned him his first trips to the upcoming Masters and PGA Championship.
McCarty will open his rookie season on the PGA TOUR at The Sentry and has also committed to play in The American Express (January 16-19) and the Farmers Insurance Open (January 22-25).
“We view this partnership as a way to bring Matt into our Black Desert family,” said Patrick Manning, Managing Partner of Black Desert Resort. “His victory here in October was memorable for so many reasons, but knowing we share that ‘first’ – his first PGA TOUR win and our inaugural PGA TOUR event – means that it’s truly something that neither Matt nor anyone here at Black Desert Resort will forget. We are eager to see how his career progresses and are honored to have him wearing the Black Desert logo on his sleeve.”
In addition to its partnership with McCarty, Black Desert Resort has sponsorship agreements with PGA TOUR veterans and Utah natives Patrick Fishburn and Jay Don Blake, PGA TOUR player Taylor Montgomery, PGA TOUR player and BYU alum Peter Kuest, top-ranked junior golfer and incoming BYU freshman Kihei Akina, LPGA player Savannah Vilaubi, top female junior golfers Ali Mulhall and Kate Walker, former Utah Jazz star and longtime broadcast analyst Thurl Bailey, and professional freeride mountain bike athlete and Red Bull Rampage competitor Luke Whitlock. The resort also supports the Utah Tech men’s and women’s golf teams.
Black Desert Resort is one of only two golf courses in the country to host professional tournaments at the highest level for both men and women. The Black Desert Championship marked the PGA TOUR’s return to Utah for the first time in more than 60 years, and the resort is slated to host the LPGA Tour beginning in May 2025. Both tournaments are part of multi-year partnerships to host the events at Black Desert Resort.
Since opening in May 2023, the golf course at Black Desert Resort has garnered rave reviews among golfers and has been recognized with a number of prestigious awards and accolades:
- 1 in Utah – Best Courses You Can Play (Golfweek, June 2024)
- 2 – Best New Courses to Open in 2023 (Golf Digest, January 2024)
- 22 – Top 200 Residential Courses in the U.S. (Golfweek, January 2024)
- 26 – Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S. (Golfweek, January 2024)
- 32 – Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play in the U.S. (Golfweek, June 2024)
- 81 – Top 200 Modern Courses (Golfweek, June 2024)
Nestled within the breathtaking Greater Zion region of southwestern Utah, the 18-hole championship course at Black Desert Resort is the 73rd and final masterpiece designed by the legendary Tom Weiskopf. The award-winning course seamlessly blends ancient basalt rock formations with lush fairways and vibrant vermilion sandstone cliffs, creating a unique and visually striking experience. Spanning 7,500 yards, the course is expertly crafted to cater to golfers of all skill levels, featuring forgiving fairways, pristine greens, and strategically placed landing areas ranging from 70 to 100 yards. The experience is further enhanced by dedicated CADDIMASTER forecaddies, GPS-equipped carts with hole-by-hole commentary from Weiskopf, fully inclusive on-course food and non-alcoholic beverages, a cutting-edge driving range powered by TRACKMAN technology, and a 2-acre, 36-hole putting green.
Golfers can now reserve tee times up to 60 days in advance at www.blackdesertresort.com, with priority access available to property owners and resort guests. Black Desert Resort is currently open to resort guests for a special “Preview Period” before its official grand opening in early 2025.
About Black Desert Resort
Set amidst the vermillion sandstone cliffs and striking black lava beds of Greater Zion, Black Desert Resort is poised to become a premier destination for luxury hospitality, golf, and Southern Utah adventure. Black Desert Resort will be anchored by a Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course, which will host annual events on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour. Set for a grand opening in Spring 2025, the resort’s first phase will include nearly 800 guest rooms and suites, seven dining venues, a 15,000-square-foot spa, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and 45,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space. Future phases will include a water park, additional guest rooms and suites, and many more dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Spanning over 600 acres of scenic landscape, Black Desert Resort will offer easy access to 200+ acres of preserved land and six miles of hiking trails. Reef Capital Partners is developing Black Desert Resort. To learn more, visit www.blackdesertresort.com.
Media contacts:
Greg Ball, 760-271-9183/ Dana Gordon, 856-397-2917/ Liz McCollum, 352-514-0550; blackdesert@bzapr.com
