Tommy Fleetwood may still be the chief member of the “best player without a PGA Tour win” club, but Cameron Young has been lurking just behind that title, an American nearly-man of his own. Nothing changed that narrative more emphatically than his Sunday performance at Sedgefield. Five birdies in a row, a commanding six-stroke lead, and a tie of the scoring record at -22, all capped by a par on 18 that finally got him over the line in his 94th start.
Five Birdies, One Record, One Redemption
Young seized his first PGA Tour win and became the 1,000th unique winner in Tour history by pouring in birdies early and letting no one breathe. He led by five heading into the final round, never looked back, and closed with the quiet confidence of a guy who’d been here a hundred times mentally. Now? He’s officially a winner.
Young on Finally Breaking Through
There was relief, joy, and maybe a touch of disbelief in his post-round chat.
“It’s been a long time coming. I’ve had a lot of chances and you start to wonder if it’s ever going to happen,” Young admitted.
“Today, I just tried to keep doing the same things I’ve been doing — stay patient, take my birdies when they come, and not force anything. Those five in a row early were huge, but the back nine felt longer than any I’ve ever played.”
“To finally get one… yeah, it’s special. I’m glad I don’t have to answer that ‘when’s it coming?’ question anymore.”
A Quick Look at the Chasers
Second place went to Mac Meissner at -16, followed by Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third at -15. Further back, Chris Kirk, Aaron Rai, and amateur standout Jackson Koivun shared fifth at -14, while Matt Fitzpatrick quietly tucked into a top-ten finish at -13. Plenty of playoff points in the bank and if nothing else, it showed this tournament isn’t just a walk in the park.
What This Means for the Playoffs
For Young, the timing couldn’t be better. The win rockets him up the FedExCup standings, all but locking his spot at East Lake for the Tour Championship and putting him firmly on the U.S. Ryder Cup radar. It also sends a message to the top dogs: if you let him get hot early, he’s not going to hand it back.
For the chasing pack, Meissner’s finish puts him in the driver’s seat for a playoff run, while Hubbard and Noren bank valuable points heading into the first FedExCup event. Fitzpatrick, lurking just outside the top five, will be one to watch when the postseason tees off.
Final Thoughts
Young’s breakthrough was long overdue, and breathtaking when it finally came. He’s shed that unproven tag and stepped into the playoff conversation with swagger. Meanwhile, Fleetwood sees another player break their duck before him. His wait continues, but hopefully not for long as he will be in action this week at the St Jude.
Bang Average Moment of the Week
Young’s calm stroll after a six-stroke lead with just a routine par at 18… no drama, no theatrics, just a winner walking off like it’s Tuesday afternoon. Meditative, almost boring in its perfection. That’s the end of a drought, right there. It was endearing seeing him on 18 not knowing where to go because “I’ve never been in this position for”. Good for you, Cam. Good for you.
