mə kˈeɪ tˈɜːnd pɹəfˈɛʃənəl ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌm kˈɑːlɪdʒ ænd kwˈɔlᵻfˌaɪd fɚðɪ ˌɛlpˌiːdʒˌiːˈeɪ tˈʊɹ ˌɔn hɜː fˈɜːst ɐtˈɛmpt, fˈɪnɪʃɪŋ dʒˈɔɪnt fˈɪfti sˈɪksθ æɾ ˌɛlpˌiːdʒˌiːˈeɪ fˈaɪnəl kwˈɔlᵻfˌaɪɪŋ tˈʊɹnəmənt ˈɜːnɪŋ nˈɑːnɛɡzˈɛmpt stˈæɾəs fɚðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt ˌɛlpˌiːdʒˌiːˈeɪ sˈiːzən.
McKay turned professional after graduating from college and qualified for the LPGA Tour on her first attempt, finishing joint 56th at LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament earning non-exempt status for the 1998 LPGA season.