Cameron Young, a rising star in professional golf, showcased his skills on Friday during the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina. The New York native hit the accelerator to race to the top of the leaderboard, getting to 14-under par. With two birdies in a row, he had passed defending champ Aaron Rai. Young followed with a towering tee shot that settled just six feet from the pin on the par-3 16th hole. Unfortunately, storm clouds rolled in and ended the round early, stopping play.
Born and raised in New York, Young cultivated a love for golf from a young age. His father, the longtime head professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, had the kind of influence you can only imagine. With this decision, the PGA of America confirmed that the Ryder Cup would be coming to Bethpage Black on Long Island. Since that point in time, Young has had his sights set on qualifying for this event.
Despite being considered one of the best players yet to win on a major tour, Young has displayed remarkable potential, having competed in the final hours of major championships on two occasions. This week, he’s really going for it. It’s all in service of a wider strategy to create momentum and improve his position ahead of the Ryder Cup.
“I’ve been playing well for a while, and Randy Smith, my coach, has been bugging me to stay patient, just try to hit the shot that’s required and have fun,” said Young. His commitment to both his craft and his hopes for the Ryder Cup speak to his ambition and drive.
For his part, Young has fallen to No. 14 in the standings. Though he views this position as permanent, it is not entirely safe. As strong as his record is at the Wyndham Championship, he can still only climb to No. 14 with a victory. Yet, he continues to be positive and hopeful. To her friends, he is positively effusive, saying that they’d find him in a much better spot now than a year ago. His goal remains clear: to reach the Tour Championship and accumulate as many points as possible for Ryder Cup consideration.
The competition surrounding the Wyndham Championship has been intense, but Young’s attention is unchanged. “For me it’s not necessarily about this week. I’ve got a goal. In the middle of September I’d like to be in New York playing on that Ryder Cup team,” he remarked.
Yet as play resumes at the Wyndham Championship, one thing is for certain, Young’s dreams go well beyond this week’s tournament alone. And he’s making sure that the professional golf world is prepared for his big arrival. We will be watching his path very closely over the next few months.
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