Historic Finish at Valero Texas Open: McCarthy’s Epic Birdie Streak Ends in Playoff Loss to Bhatia

Denny McCarthy’s remarkable performance at the Valero Texas Open culminated in a stunning finish as he fired seven consecutive birdies to force a playoff with Akshay Bhatia at TPC San Antonio.

McCarthy made history by only needing 92 putts throughout the tournament, setting a new record on the TOUR front. His incredible back-nine score of 28 established a tournament back-nine scoring record at the venue.

Trailing by five strokes with seven holes remaining on Sunday, McCarthy unleashed a sensational comeback, catching fire in a display of pure skill and determination, ultimately matching Bhatia at 20-under 268 to push the event into overtime.

Despite McCarthy’s blazing run, his playoff dreams were dashed when a wayward third shot on the first playoff hole found a creek. Bhatia capitalized on the situation by sinking a birdie putt from 6 feet to claim the victory.

McCarthy, a seasoned seventh-year TOUR pro, notched his eighth top-five finish but once again fell short of capturing his maiden title.

In a post-round interview, McCarthy expressed his disappointment at the finish but highlighted the positives of his strong performance at the Valero Texas Open.

McCarthy and Bhatia were paired together in the final round alongside Brendon Todd, with Bhatia looking in control for most of the day until McCarthy’s incredible birdie streak shook up the leaderboard.

While Bhatia secured his second TOUR win and a coveted Masters invite, McCarthy’s resilient display earned him a Masters spot via his top-50 year-end Official World Golf Ranking.

McCarthy has come close to victory before, notably finishing as a runner-up at the Memorial Tournament last year. This near-miss had a different feel, with McCarthy’s late surge echoing Kevin Streelman’s historic Travelers Championship triumph in 2014.

Despite the disappointment of the playoff loss, McCarthy remains optimistic, focusing on the lessons learned and the valuable experience gained from the thrilling battle at TPC San Antonio.

The Valero Texas Open provided golf fans with a spectacle to remember, punctuated by McCarthy’s extraordinary birdie streak and Bhatia’s composure under pressure to claim the title.