Background
McGovern was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. He grew up in Oradell, New Jersey in a house adjoining the Hackensack Golf Club.
McGovern was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. He grew up in Oradell, New Jersey in a house adjoining the Hackensack Golf Club.
He attended Bergen Catholic High School, and was a star football player there, when a coach introduced him to golf during his junior year. He initially attended the University of Arkansas as a non-scholarship member of its golf team
He turned pro in 1988 and joined the Professional Golf Association Tour in 1991. His best finish in a major was T5 at the 1994 Masters Tournament. He had 14 career top-10 finishes in Professional Golf Association Tour events.
McGovern finished 19th in qualifying school and earned his Professional Golf Association Tour card for 2008.
He made the cut in 11 of 26 events. In 2009, he was back on the Nationwide Tour.
McGovern lives in Oradell, New Jersey. On January 1, 2011, McGovern became the head golf professional at White Beeches Golf & Country Club in Haworth, New Jersey, 20 miles from midtown Manhattan.
On May 17, 2011, McGovern earned medalist honors at the local United States. Open qualifier.
His 4-under 68 at Ballyowen golf club gave him medalist honors by two strokes and also secured for him one of five spots available for the United States. Open sectional qualifier at Canoe Brook on June 6. McGovern earned a spot in the 2014 Professional Golf Association Championship through his finish at the Professional Golf Association Professional National Championship after having to qualify in a playoff for one of the twenty positions. 1987 Virginia State Intercollegiate Championship Professional Golf Association Tour wins (1) Ben Hogan Tour wins (3) Other wins (2).
1987 Virginia State Intercollegiate Championship 1988 Metropolitan Amateur Professional Golf Association Tour playoff record (1–0) 1990 Ben Hogan Lake City Classic, Ben Hogan New Haven Open, Ben Hogan Texarkana Open 1987 Metropolitan Open (as an amateur) 1994 Diners Club Matches (with Jeff Maggert).
He transferred after two years to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and was a member of that school"s golf team McGovern was a member of the Professional Golf Association Tour from 1991–1998.
