Denny McCarthy Starts Strong at Wyndham Championship Despite Putting Disagreement

Denny McCarthy began the Wyndham Championship with an impressive round of six-under par 64 on Thursday in North Carolina. His performance included six birdies and 12 pars, positioning him well for the tournament.

Despite a challenging 2026 season on the PGA Tour, where he has missed five cuts in 21 starts and secured only one top-10 finish, McCarthy's opening round gives him a chance to improve his standing. He currently ranks 84th in the FedEx Cup standings and needs at least a solo 5th-place finish to qualify for the playoffs.

During a press conference, McCarthy had a tense exchange with a journalist about his putting, which the journalist suggested was subpar. McCarthy defended his performance, stating that he felt confident in his putting despite being ranked 14th in strokes gained putting this season. He noted that he could have scored even lower if a few more putts had gone in, indicating that he still considers putting a strength of his game.