PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The Players Championship delivered another dramatic finish at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, with Cameron Young pulling off the biggest victory of his career.
Young chased down 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick over the closing holes, carding a 4-under 68 to finish at 13-under 275. He edged Fitzpatrick by one stroke and finished two clear of Xander Schauffele. The win was Young’s second on the PGA Tour after a long run of near-misses and came after a breakout victory at the Wyndham Championship in August 2025.
It was Young’s calm under pressure — aided in part by the confidence he gained from stellar Ryder Cup play at Bethpage last fall — that carried him home. He birdied the island-green 17 with a 57-degree wedge and a 9½-foot putt, then drilled a 375-yard drive on the 18th, the longest tee shot recorded at that hole in the ShotLink era, to secure the title.
“The stadium atmosphere on 17 is unbelievable,” Young said. “You know all eyes are on you, and I felt like I stepped up and hit some good shots when it mattered.”
Winners
Cameron Young
Young’s path to victory was the culmination of persistence: he reached 94 starts without a win and recorded seven runner-up finishes — the most by any player since 1983 — before breaking through in 2025 and adding this signature victory. He acknowledged some inconsistency in his driving during the week but credited commitment to his lines and a deliberate mindset on key swings.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju
The PGA Tour rookie announced himself in a big way at Sawgrass. Yellamaraju shot 10 under over the final 36 holes to finish tied for fifth at 9 under, a career-best on tour. Born in India and raised in Winnipeg, he largely taught himself by watching videos of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, practiced mostly indoors and has never had a formal swing coach, relying on guidance from his father and his caddie.
His week featured strong metrics across the board: fourth in strokes gained: putting (5.501), 15th in approach (4.503) and tied for second in driving distance (311.2 yards). The performance vaulted him from 216th to 145th in the Official World Golf Ranking and earned a $925,000 paycheck.
“I knew I could compete, but getting results like this gives a different kind of confidence,” Yellamaraju said. “I stayed patient and played one shot at a time.”
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele showed encouraging form as he returns from a rib injury suffered in 2025. He birdied three of the final four holes, including a dramatic 20½-foot putt on 18, to post 11 under and briefly hold the clubhouse lead. His weekend finish suggests he could be a factor again as the season moves toward the majors.
“A lot of good things this week,” Schauffele said. “Approach shots were solid, and I didn’t miss fairways. I’d like to sharpen up a few short putts, but there’s time.”
Losers
Ludvig Åberg
Åberg entered the final round with a three-shot lead and still led by two at the turn, but the back nine unraveled. A mishit 7-wood approach from 267 yards on the par-4 11th found the water and led to a bogey 6. He compounded his troubles on the short par-4 12th, taking driver, hooking his tee shot into the water and making a double-bogey 6 that effectively ended his challenge. Åberg closed with a 4-over 76 and tied for fifth at 9 under.
“It was a poor swing, a really poor swing, and it definitely stings,” Åberg said, reflecting on the mistakes and the learning opportunity.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy was hampered all week by a back issue that limited his preparation and kept him from defending his Players title effectively. He skipped a practice round after arriving on Wednesday and struggled, particularly on the greens, though he managed to make the cut and finish tied for 46th at even par.
“I’m happy I got through four days and my body feels good,” McIlroy said. “The game got a little better as the week went on, even if the scores didn’t show it.”
Notes
Matt Fitzpatrick settled for solo second after leading late but was denied by Young’s clutch birdie at 17 and steady play on 18. The leaderboard at Sawgrass combined veteran poise and emerging talent, offering signs of momentum for several players as the Tour heads toward the Masters and the rest of the season.
