McCarty Set to Make PGA Return

July 11, 2013

Photo Gallery: John Deere Classic

Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.

SILVIS, Ill. — The University of Iowa men’s golf program will be well-represented when the John Deere Classic kicks off today at TPC Club Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., with two Hawkeyes in the field. Senior Steven Ihm opens play at 9 a.m. (CT), while former Hawkeye All-American Sean McCarty tees off at 2:05 p.m. (CT).

All day long, a Hawkeye will be between the ropes of a PGA event.

McCarty, the Head PGA Golf Professional at Brown Deer Golf Club in Coralville, Iowa, is excited to tee it up in the Quad Cities.

“I always look forward to getting back here,” said McCarty. “It is local for myself. It has been five years, so it is nice to get back with the big boys.

“The course is in great shape, probably the best I have ever seen it.”

McCarty helped Iowa win the Big Ten title in 1992, on his way to Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. In 1995, he earned All-America honors along with the likes of Tiger Woods. McCarty also qualified for the 2003 U.S. Open.

For 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, McCarty is a local golfer he looked up to while coming up the golf ranks.

“I like seeing the fact that we’ve got other (local) guys, kids coming out of the state that are playing well, and some of the older guys,” said Johnson. “Sean McCarty, I’ve known Sean for — I don’t know how long — 25 years, and he’s playing again this week. No surprise. He was always a guy that we looked up to.”

“I played at the University of Iowa, a long time ago already,” said McCarty. “I have been at Brown Deer Golf Club in Coralville for 12 years now. It has always been a dream of mine to get onto the PGA Tour; you just never know. In golf, all it takes is a hot week. We will see what happens.”

McCarty hopes to be playing Deere Run on the weekend.

“I have been struggling a little bit off the tee,” said McCarty. “You need that here, because it is tight. I am working on that this week. We’ll see what happens, if I can get it in play, I have been hitting irons well. It takes about three to five under to make the cut.

“This is a little higher level than I am used to playing. I have been playing well. For me, it is just getting into play off the tee. I would love to make the cut; that would be my goal. I have not done that in a long time. That is my first objective; then we’ll see where it goes from there.

“It is fun. I will have a lot of family and friends down here, so it will be a fun week.”

Fans can watch the John Deere Classic on the Golf Channel from 2-5 p.m. (CT) on Thursday and Friday. On the weekend, the Golf Channel will have the coverage from noon to 1:30 p.m. (CT), before switching over to CBS from 2-5 p.m. (CT).