AUGUSTA, Ga. — Cam Young’s Major Championship Journey Continues

Cam Young seemed poised for victory, having previously made significant strides in his career. But, as it turned out, his wait for a major championship is still ongoing.

Finishing tied for third at 10 under, Young fell short of catching Rory McIlroy, who claimed the title by two strokes.

Reflecting on his performance, Young expressed disappointment with his putting, identifying it as the critical factor that prevented him from winning. “I didn’t have any negatives other than obviously wishing for a different result,” he remarked after his round. “But golf-wise, I think I played well enough to win, and I think I could have won by a couple of strokes.”

“I just didn’t make any putts,” he added. “I did manage to chip in yesterday and made a couple longer putts, but that was really it.”

Young felt he performed the way he needed to, describing the back nine where he almost had a birdie opportunity on each hole but couldn’t convert. “It was one of those days where I just couldn’t get it to drop,” he said. “I had some good looks, especially on 12 through 16, but they just didn’t go in. Sometimes it just happens like that.”

Young’s recent successes include his first PGA Tour win last year after a string of runner-up finishes, breaking records along the way.

He also triumphed at the Players Championship last month and entered Sunday tied for the lead with McIlroy. There were moments when it seemed like he might secure his first major, especially after taking the lead with a birdie on the second hole.

A win would have positioned him to claim his third consecutive Players title at the Masters. However, his round wasn’t as strong as he had hoped, and a dropped shot on the ninth combined with solid play led him to settle for another near-miss.

“It’s clear he’s a fantastic player,” Young noted, recognizing McIlroy’s skill. “There’s so much to learn from him. Yet, I want to focus on the positives from this week. I played well enough to win, but things just didn’t fall into place this time.”

In the past, Young had impressive finishes, including a second place at the 2022 British Open, where he shot a final round 65, and a tied third at the 2022 PGA Championship, finishing just one stroke behind the champions.