Cameron Young, one of the rising stars in professional golf, made an indelible mark at the 2026 Players Championship, an event that featured an impressive purse of $25 million. Young, who was four strokes behind leader Ludvig Aberg at the end of the third day, ultimately claimed victory and took home a prize of $4.5 million, all thanks to an unexpected mistake from one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour, Matt Fitzpatrick. This setback turned a potential playoff into a memorable win for Young, who now shares his incisive analysis of Fitzpatrick’s error.
“He was in complete control. There wasn’t a part of me that expected him to make a mistake. He played really well and isn’t shy in moments like that. I mean, he won a US Open. He won trying to think about Hilton Head in the playoff a few years ago, hitting a shot a foot from the hole. He’s a player you really don’t want to be up against in a situation like that,” Young said during his appearance on the Fore Play Podcast Plus.
Young’s words reflect the confidence that Fitzpatrick typically exhibits in pressure situations. The Englishman, who has already won two titles on the PGA Tour, had shown superb performance during the final round of the Players Championship, starting the day five strokes behind Aberg and finishing with an impressive five under par by the 15th hole. With excellent driving and putting, Fitzpatrick ranked second in driving distance and tied for fifth in driving accuracy in the fourth round. However, a colossal mistake on the 18th hole cost him the victory.
Young, who was just one stroke behind Fitzpatrick until the 17th hole, found himself in a favorable position after Fitzpatrick finished the 18th hole with a bogey, while he made a birdie on the 17th, a decisive moment that sealed his victory. Fitzpatrick’s ability to perform under pressure is well known, having won the 2022 US Open by a narrow margin, but the unexpected error left Young bewildered.
After the event, Fitzpatrick admitted that he believed he had made a good drive, but once he left the tee, the chances of finishing even par at TPC Sawgrass became extremely challenging. Young noticed Fitzpatrick’s mistake when he saw that his putt was not heading for the hole, a moment that will surely remain in the memories of the fans.
What makes the situation even more intriguing is the atmosphere of support felt during the final. On the 18th fairway, the crowd was clearly rallying behind Young, and it was at that moment that Fitzpatrick, in a straightforward tone, asked, “Do you hate me too?” This question, revealing the tension of the moment, caught Young off guard, who replied that they both play on the same TGL team and are friends, representing New York GC.
The intensity of support for Young was such that many are wondering if it influenced Fitzpatrick, leading him to the mistake that cost him the competition. The situation serves as a powerful reminder of how external pressure can affect even the most experienced players, prompting fans to speculate about the impact of partisanship in an event of such magnitude. Young, now a champion, reflects on what could have been a playoff and how the dynamics of a tournament can change in the blink of an eye.
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