PLAYER PROFILE · PGA TOUR
Cameron Young is one of the most explosive ball-strikers in the men’s game – a former Rookie of the Year who spent years as golf’s great nearly man before the wins finally came, and who arrives at Royal Birkdale chasing the major his talent has long promised.
| Full name | Cameron David Young |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 May 1997, Scarborough, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Turned pro | 2019 |
| Primary tour | PGA Tour |
| Height | 5′ 11″ (1.80 m) |
| Major championships | None (runner-up, 2022 Open; T3, 2026 Masters) |
| PGA Tour wins | 3 (7 professional wins) |
| College | Wake Forest University |
| Career-high ranking | World No. 3 (2026) |
The Club Pro’s Son
Cameron Young grew up inside the game. His father, David, was the head professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in New York, and the young Cameron learned to strike a golf ball on the range there long before anyone outside Westchester County knew his name. That grounding shows in his swing – powerful, repeating, unfussy – and in a temperament that reads as unhurried even when the stakes are highest. He played his college golf at Wake Forest and turned professional in 2019, arriving on the PGA Tour with the kind of raw distance that makes veterans look twice.
Rookie of the Year, and the Runner-Up Years
Young announced himself in the 2021–22 season, winning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year on the strength of a remarkable run of near-misses. Chief among them was the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews, where he birdied the 72nd hole to finish second to Cameron Smith – a performance that marked him instantly as a major champion in waiting. But the wins would not come. Seven times he finished second on the PGA Tour before finally breaking through, a stretch that turned him into the circuit’s most compelling nearly man.
The Wins Arrive
The dam broke at the 2025 Wyndham Championship, where Young claimed his maiden PGA Tour title and, in the quirk of golf’s record-keeping, became the 1,000th different player to win a recognised PGA Tour event. He did not wait long for the second: the 2026 Players Championship, the tour’s flagship, confirmed that the breakthrough was no fluke and lifted him to a career-high World No. 3. Along the way he had already shot a 59 at the 2024 Travelers – only the 13th sub-60 round in Tour history – and been a productive Ryder Cup rookie for the United States, going 3–1–0 as a 2025 captain’s pick.
Unfinished Business at the Open
If there is a stage that seems to draw the best from Cameron Young, it is links golf. His 2022 near-miss at St Andrews left the sense of a debt unpaid, and at the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale he has put himself squarely in the argument once more – inside the top three through 36 holes, one of the pre-tournament favourites making good on the billing. For a player whose career has been defined by the distance between his talent and his trophies, the Claret Jug would be the most fitting reward of all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Cameron Young won a major championship?
Not yet. Cameron Young’s best major finish is a runner-up at the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews, and he added a tie for third at the 2026 Masters. At the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale he sits inside the top three through 36 holes, firmly in contention for a first major.
How old is Cameron Young and where is he from?
Young was born on 7 May 1997 in Scarborough, New York. The son of a club professional, he learned the game at Sleepy Hollow Country Club and played his college golf at Wake Forest University before turning professional in 2019.
How many times has Cameron Young won on the PGA Tour?
Young has three PGA Tour victories among seven professional wins. His maiden Tour title came at the 2025 Wyndham Championship – ending a run of seven runner-up finishes – and he followed it with the 2026 Players Championship.
How high has Cameron Young been ranked?
Young reached a career-high of World No. 3 in 2026 and has been a fixture inside the game’s top ten, powered by some of the longest and most reliable driving on the PGA Tour.
Did Cameron Young shoot 59?
Yes. Young carded a 59 in the second round of the 2024 Travelers Championship, the 13th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history – a vivid demonstration of the ceiling on his ball-striking.