Cameron Young outplayed some of the biggest names in golf to win the Players Championship in a dramatic finish. A flagship event of the PGA Tour, The Players Championship takes place each year in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The 123-player field is widely considered the strongest in the world. This year’s Players Championship delivered a finish that lived up to the hype.
To start the tournament, there were 14 rookies making their debut, and they made their presence known. Seven of the 14 rookies made the cut and advanced to the weekend.
Two of the biggest names in golf, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, both struggled early in the tournament. Scheffler posted rounds of 72 and 73, barely making the cut by one shot. McIlroy also survived the cut line, making it right on the number.
Several big names still managed to shine in Ponte Vedra Beach. Local resident Ludvig Åberg held a three-shot lead heading into the final round. For most of the tournament it looked like Åberg had everything under control, but things unraveled quickly when he put his 3-wood in the water on the 11th hole and then followed it up by hitting driver into the water on 12.
The battle between Matt Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young was absolute cinema. The two players both started the day at least four shots back from Åberg, who led the tournament at 13 under. By the time they reached the 14th hole, Fitzpatrick and Young were tied at 12-under, and it looked like Fitzpatrick might have the edge.
Everything changed on the famous island green at the 17th.
Fitzpatrick held a one-shot lead heading into the iconic par-3, but Cameron Young showed nerves of steel. Young stuck his tee shot to about 11 feet and confidently rolled in the birdie putt in front of nearly 10,000 fans. The crowd erupted, with chants of “USA, USA” echoing around the 18th tee box.
The tournament came down to the final hole. Young delivered one last statement, hitting the longest drive ever recorded on the 18th hole during a final round at the Players Championship. His 375-yard drive split the fairway, leaving him in perfect position. Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, pushed his driver into the right pine straw and eventually made bogey.
Young calmly finished the hole with par and walked away with the trophy after one of the most dramatic finishes of the year.
