Matthew McClean made the most of his first mid-morning strike

In 2022, Matthew McClean was a name that even the most astute followers of amateur golf might not have recognized.

But they certainly knew his name by September, after Northern Ireland’s McClean and Republic of Ireland’s Hugh Foley tamed the field at the US Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills to meet in the 36-hole final.

Why was this so significant? A couple of reasons.

First, to that point, the Mid-Am, which was created in 1981 for elite, post-college amateurs 25 and older, had crowned only one champion from outside the U.S. in more than 40 years. One of the two Irishmen was guaranteed to be second.

secondly, McClean and Foley were roommates that week in Wisconsin. Not only that, they were traveling partners who had spent almost the entire week together – including the final.

And finally, McClean, who eventually defeated his friend with a 3-and-1 victory to win the championship, was playing not only in his first USGA event, but also in his first event in USA.

“So, frankly, what happened is that I really hadn’t heard of the tournament, before 2022,” McClean said last week. “Mid-morning golf in Ireland and even sort of GB and I’m good level competitive golf, but it’s really more of a ‘go play a tournament for a weekend and have fun’.

While many US Mid-Am competitors enter with fun on their minds, there is a certain level of tension that is lower across the pond. The US noon circuit is one of the most exclusive in the world. McClean, then 29, four years into the eligibility criteria, was not very familiar with it.

In the end, a friend with whom McClean competed in Ireland, Marc Boucher, who had just turned 25, suggested he go to the United States to play in the 2022 Mid-Am. The rest, as McClean says, “was history “.

“I owe Mark a thank you and maybe a beer for letting me know about it,” he said.

McClean’s lack of awareness of the US Mid-Am is not unique to him. Of the 264 players in the field at Erin Hills that year, only 25 came from outside the United States. Part of the reason for that is only one of the 68 qualifying countries for the tournament is held outside the US, and the only international site is in Mexico.

But due to his amateur golf world ranking, which was boosted by some impressive performances at home, McClean was disqualified and his victory postponed his amateur golf career.

In 2023, McClean, whose day job is as an optometrist in Belfast, played in some of the most prestigious amateur events around, from the Jones Cup to the Azalea Invitational to the Crump Cup in Valley of the Pines AND Walker Cup in St. Andrews. That doesn’t even include his appearances at the 2023 Masters and the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.

“So, you know, you have your job and it’s completely untouched by golf, it’s the same thing,” McClean said. “But from a golfing perspective, I think the main thing for me is that it’s probably the number of people you meet playing golf – from different backgrounds, different countries, different lifestyles, all those things. They have one thing in common: they all enjoy golf.

“I have seen a lot of America in the last two years. You got to go out and play some world-class golf courses, but also traveling and, you know, going to different cities and getting the full experience have been bucket list things.”

Unsurprisingly, McClean initially pointed to the Masters as the best experience he’s had in the best of two years, but he also raved about his time at the Walker Cup.

This week, his accolades will land him in another team event for the first time. Bridge Cup, an annual high-level Ryder Cup-style amateur event between US and international teams. (GOLF’s parent company, 8AM Golf, hosts the event each year.)

“I love team golf,” McClean said, adding that he is excited to meet most of his teammates for the first time this week. “The best event for me all last year was the Walker Cup.

“Growing up in Ireland, we played a lot of team golf at the club level. And then in recent years at the national level,” he continued. “Everybody’s there for the same reason, you know, every good golfer, every golfer no matter what their level, every kind of good golfer wants to win no matter what.”

Jack Hirsch

Editor of Golf.com

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A native of Pennsylvania, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also *tries* to remain competitive in the local amateurs. Prior to joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a television station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a multimedia journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.