ROCHESTER (N.Y.) — Some golfers have charisma that is undeniable, such as Rory McIlroy and the LPGA Tour’s Maria Fassi. The golfers command attention whether they are standing on the tee or having a quiet conversation with their caddies. Media members, TV audiences and spectators can’t help but stare.
Cameron Young is the exact opposite. Since his debut on the PGA Tour in 2013, the 26-year old has remained quiet, giving journalists little to work with when they are looking for juicy quotes or fist pumps on the 18th hole. Cameron Young, however, is a man worth watching if you want to witness a display of raw power which could be the key to securing major championships or playing a crucial role in future Ryder Cups.
Young grew up at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor (300 miles south of Rochester) but this week’s event feels like a home game.
Young stated that “even walking down the first tee today, I felt like the grasses were familiar and the weather was unique to this area of the country.” Young said, “It’s beautiful outside today and something so simple feels very familiar.”
Sleepy Hollow Golf Club is a tribute to the legendari golf course designers Charles Blair Macdonald Seth Raynor, and A.W. Tillinghast. Donald Ross designed Oak Hill, a prestigious New York course. Both courses have a tradition, and challenge golfers to negotiate treacherous bunkers while avoiding the unforgiving rough. Young understands this style and embraces it wholeheartedly.
It’s really exciting to me to see some poa-annua, bent-grass fairways that are really tight [like those at Oak Hill]. Young stated that he found it rewarding to use irons. “It opens up the opportunity to play a lot of shots you wouldn’t normally be able to [play] at other places. That’s something I really enjoy.” The chipping, wedges and iron play from those tight fairways are something I look forward to every time we come this way.
The former Wake Forest star, in addition to finishing third at last year’s PGA Championship and the runner up at the British Open, finished T-7 this season at the Masters. He has moved up from 134th in January 2022 to 15th on this week’s Official World Golf Ranking. No one is surprised that he will be back, and Young’s calm demeanor makes him a perfect fit for big stages. He is not overwhelmed by the moment.
Last year’s PGA Championship marked a major milestone for Young. “I’d finished well in big tournaments but to have a shot at winning a major on Sunday was different,” said Young. “I’d say that the level of comfort kind of sneaked up on me.”
Young shaved off his beard just a few weeks ago, after his wife asked him to do so. You may not recognize Young on Thursday at 1:25 when he takes the tee with Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuzayama. You might recognize Young’s name in the Sunday leaderboard.
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By: David Dusek
Title: PGA Championship: Cameron Young feels at home at Oak Hill
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/05/17/pga-championship-cameron-young-oak-hill/
Published Date: Wed, 17 May 2023 13:00:25 +0000
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