Cameron Young showcased remarkable consistency throughout the Valspar Championship, carding scores in the 60s across all four days. Despite this impressive feat, he fell short by two strokes, conceding victory to Peter Malnati.
This second-place finish marks the seventh time in Young’s burgeoning PGA Tour career that he has secured such a position without clinching a win, a record unmatched since 1983. Prior to Young, Colin Montgomerie and Briny Baird held this distinction, each with six runner-up finishes.
The pivotal moment came on the 18th tee, where Young needed a birdie to level with Malnati. Unfortunately, an errant drive left him scrambling, leading to a costly bogey and ultimately paving the way for Malnati’s triumph.
Reflecting on the crucial misstep, Young lamented, “Yeah, it was just a bad time for a pull. Trying to hit kind of the same, similar one that I hit off of 16. Not quite as dramatic of a cut, but just kind of started it on the wrong side of the wind, and it’s blowing pretty good off the right. So, yeah, just a bad time for a bad one.”
Despite this setback, Young’s driving prowess has been a standout feature of his game this season, ranking an impressive 18th in strokes gained off the tee. However, inconsistency in other facets, notably putting where he ranks 113th, hindered his quest for victory.
Nonetheless, Young’s season has been marked by consistency, having made the cut in all eight events he’s entered, including a notable third-place finish in the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic and a T4 at the Cognizant Classic, amassing over $14 million in earnings throughout his brief career.
Sunday’s performance saw Young make a significant climb up the leaderboard, trailing the 54-hole leader Keith Mitchell by three shots at the outset. Despite rallying with impressive shots, untimely bogeys on the 2nd and 18th holes prevented him from forcing a playoff with Malnati.
Reflecting on his mental fortitude, Young remarked, “I think I kept myself in it mentally really well today. I hit a couple of shots I was really proud of late… But I think I handled my own thoughts really well, and, for me, that’s a big win regardless of the outcome.”
The question looms: when will Young breakthrough for his maiden PGA Tour victory? While his consistent presence near the top of leaderboards is commendable, the elusive win remains the ultimate goal for the young talent.
Savannah Leigh Richardson, a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through, authored this piece. For more golf coverage, readers are encouraged to follow @_PlayingThrough on major social platforms, as well as Richardson’s personal accounts on Twitter (@SportsGirlSL) and Instagram (@savannah_leigh_sports).
