Matt McCarty is the surprise leader at the Truist Championship with play suspended on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.
McCarty birdied his last three holes to fire an 8-under-par 63. South Korea’s Sungjae Im was on his tail after eagling his third-to-last hole (No. 7) to leap to 7 under.
After Im parred the eighth and hit his tee shot at No. 9, the event was suspended due to inclement weather with 20 of the 72 golfers in the no-cut signature event field yet to finish their rounds.
McCarty made a whopping 220 feet of putts Thursday, the most in a single round on tour this season. That included a 52 1/2-footer for birdie at the par-3 13th, a 60-footer for birdie at the par-4 16th and another 52-footer at the par-3 17th.
McCarty, 28, won his only PGA Tour title at the Black Desert Championship in October 2024, shortly after he was promoted from the Korn Ferry Tour.
Canada’s Nick Taylor, England’s Harry Hall, Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan are tied for third at 5-under 66. Austria’s Sepp Straka, the defending champion, is also 5 under through 17 holes and has a 6-foot par putt to finish up on No. 18.
Tony Finau, David Lipsky, Canada’s Corey Conners and Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Fitzpatrick shot 4-under 67. A win this week for Finau would gain him entry into the PGA Championship; he is currently the fifth alternate.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, a four-time winner at Quail Hollow, opened with a 1-under 70.
–Field Level Media
