PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — American Cameron Young clinched his second PGA Tour title and the biggest win of his career with a sensational one-shot victory at The Players Championship on Sunday after a drama-laden afternoon at TPC Sawgrass.
One stroke behind England’s Matt Fitzpatrick with two holes to play, Young drew level with a birdie at the par-3 17th after hitting a brilliant tee shot to 9-1/2 feet and then safely parred the last to card a 4-under-par 68.
That left him at 13-under 275 in the PGA Tour’s flagship event and one ahead of Fitzpatrick, who also closed with a 68 after his tee shot at the 18th wound up on pine straw in the treeline to the right of the fairway and led to a bogey five.
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who had led the tournament by three shots overnight, was two ahead with eight holes to play on Sunday before his title bid unraveled with a bogey at the par-5 11th and a double-bogey at the par-4 12th. He had to settle for a share of fifth place at 9 under after returning a 76.
Two-time major champion Xander Schauffele closed with a 69 to claim third place at 11 under, a stroke in front of Scotland’s World No. 8 Robert MacIntyre, who also signed off with a 69.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the Players champion in 2023 and 2024, ended his week at TPC Sawgrass with a 1-under 71 to finish in a tie for 22nd at 5 under.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy, the World No. 2, was left to reflect on “not the week that I wanted” after he signed off with a 71 and an even-par total, tied for 46th.
The Northern Irishman withdrew from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational after two rounds due to a back injury and he did not play a single practice round at TPC Sawgrass after only arriving at the venue on the eve of the tournament.
–Mark Lamport-Stokes, Field Level Media
