Cameron Young reflects on his strong performance and confident mindset heading into the final round of the Wyndham Championship. From committing to a draw off the tee to believing he can shoot 10-under on Sunday, Young shares what’s been working in his game and why he’s staying calm despite the pressure. He also opens up about his Ryder Cup aspirations and how past experiences have shaped his approach.
Good playing, Cam. How would you describe your for sure your day and what was clicking for you overall? Yeah, it was mostly just the start. Um, you know, kind of sketchy off the first tee and recovered really well. Hit two nice shots on two, just a really difficult hole location today. And then the four birdies in a row. Um, you know, number number three felt like a putt I should have made. Four is just trying to two putt, fell in the front lip. Five you feel like you should make birdie. and then six as a bonus just on top of those three. I mean, just played some really nice golf there for about an hour and um h had some opportunities on the back nine, too. Just didn’t didn’t make as many putts, but kind of cruised along with, you know, hitting some average shots kind of through the middle of the round. Um and nice to finish up the way I did. Made made a nice putt on 17. You um mentioned on Thursday committing to a draw. Have you stayed with that? I I don’t I might have healed a driver that has gone left to right, but I think every other shot has been right to left. Uh some more than others, but yeah, I’ve stuck to it. Um I haven’t hit anything left to right on the range. I had the inclination to try to like see what it felt like to hit something straighter today and just didn’t. So, um yeah, safe to say I’ll probably be doing that tomorrow. Uh see what it gets me. And when did you decide to commit to that? And what kind of inspired you to, you know, um that I last week just practicing at home. Uh I’ve I’m always looking through old video and stuff and um just found that I I used to swing it just a little bit more biased towards a draw and um I don’t know, just I my iron play this year hasn’t been great doing it the other way. And I’ve I’ve noticed I kind of haven’t gotten on, you know, any substantial run anywhere. And I felt like committing to just one shot might, you know, allow me to kind of build some feel. And that seems to have worked pretty well. When’s the last time you feel like you puted this well? Uh, I’ve puted really well all year. Um, I don’t know what the stats say, but it’s it’s one of the better one of the better putting weeks I’m sure I’ve had. uh putted great in Hawaii this year at Sentry. Um I’ve had a few few throughout the year that I’ve putted really well. But yeah, I mean I feel like just mechanically I just am a better putter than I’ve been at any other point in my career. So I don’t think it’s um I don’t think I’ve just gotten a feel for it or I think just mechanically I’m I’m better at it. And um you know at some point I’m going to have a few weeks where I have that and I do get a feel for it. and I like these greens, so I feel like I’ve been putting really well. Does it feel like you got a monkey on your back that you’re trying to get off this week with getting a D getting that win? Not really. I I if you’d asked me two years ago, I’d probably say yes. But if you go back through, I mean, I’ve obviously finished second a bunch. I’ve gotten beat a lot. I haven’t, you know, I’ve played some good golf on Sunday in really all those cases. So, that’s all I’m trying to do tomorrow. And, um, you know, I’m starting in a nice spot. So, I’m just looking to, you know, try to beat second place by as many as I can. Uh, that’s been my mindset from, you know, first on Thursday, and that’s what I’m going to try to do tomorrow. You’ve mentioned, um, in a couple interviews, the Rider Cup being a goal. Could you speak to why that’s such a goal this year, and is it being in New York make it a little more special? Yeah, I I think um, that that location is, first of all, one of my favorite golf courses in the world. Um, I have a lot of good memories there playing New York State Open. And you know, I’m sure a New York crowd would be I I at least hope on my side to some extent. So yeah, I mean that that’s been a goal this whole year and I’m trying to just look at that to just, you know, take all the small stuff that happens dayto day as it comes with, you know, in the back of my mind trying to picture myself on that team. Obviously, I’d love to make it. Um it hurt pretty bad to miss miss it a couple years ago. I was ninth on the points list and didn’t get picked. So, I was a bit frustrated with that and um you know, set out the year to give uh our captain no choice. And I don’t know if I’m in a position to do that or not, but it would take some some really good golf between now and then, but I I if I’m in the question, I’, you know, that’s that’s been a big goal of mine, and I’d love to put myself there. Anyway, um you’re leading by five, I would, but at the same time, this is a golf course where, you know, low scores can be shot. How do you how do you balance staying aggressive and, you know, trying to win? You know what I’m saying? Yeah. Uh, frankly, I’m probably not really going to pay much attention to my position tomorrow. Um, I know that there is an eight, a nine, a 10 under out there and I’d like to be the one to shoot it as opposed to someone in second or third place tomorrow. Right. Is and of your second place finishes, is there one that you learned something from that you might take to heart this week or? Um, yeah. I mean, like I said, I think in in really all those cases, I’ve played some great golf on Sunday. There’s just been one too many people. Um, so from my perspective, you know, around the lead, I’ve played a lot of really good golf on Sunday and I have no reason to expect any different tomorrow. Thank you guys. Thank you.
