Cameron Young Claims Players Championship with Record 375-Yard Drive on 18

Cameron Young secured his second PGA Tour victory at the Players Championship, finishing 13-under 275 to edge out Matt Fitzpatrick by a single stroke.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Cameron Young secured the 2026 Players Championship title at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, finishing with a 13-under 275 total to claim a one-shot victory. Young carded a final-round 4-under 68 to surpass 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who finished at 12-under. Xander Schauffele took third place at 11-under, two strokes behind the leader. Young’s victory was punctuated by a 9½-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th island green and a record-breaking 375-yard drive on the 18th hole. This tee shot stands as the longest drive recorded on the closing hole at TPC Sawgrass since the inception of the ShotLink era in 2004.

Young’s path to this flagship event win followed a period of near-misses, as he recorded seven runner-up finishes in his first 94 PGA Tour starts—the highest such total for any golfer since 1983. After breaking through at the Wyndham Championship in August 2025, the 28-year-old former Wake Forest star utilized a 57-degree wedge on the 17th to set up his pivotal birdie. He concluded the tournament by parring the 18th to hold off Fitzpatrick. Young previously earned four points for the U.S. Ryder Cup team during a 15-13 loss to Europe at Bethpage Black State Park, a performance he credited with helping him manage the heightened senses and nerves of the stadium atmosphere in Florida.

Åberg Collapses on the Back Nine

Ludvig Åberg entered the final round at TPC Sawgrass holding a three-stroke lead and remained two shots ahead after making the turn at even par. However, his contention evaporated on the 11th and 12th holes. On the par-5 11th, Åberg used a 7-wood from 267 yards for his approach but sliced the ball into the water on the right, resulting in a bogey 6. His struggles continued on the short par-4 12th, where he opted for a driver off the tee despite changing wind conditions. He hooked the drive into the water on the left, leading to a double-bogey 6.

Åberg finished the day with a 4-over 76, dropping him into a tie for fifth place at 9-under. Reflecting on the poor swing at the 12th, Åberg noted that while his game plan included the driver as an option, the execution failed during a disappointing back nine. Despite the finish, the 26-year-old acknowledged feeling nerves throughout the week, from Thursday's opening round through Sunday morning.

Rookie Yellamaraju’s Historic Debut

PGA Tour rookie Akshay Yellamaraju delivered a standout performance in his first Players Championship appearance, tying for fifth at 9-under. Yellamaraju went 10-under par during the final 36 holes of the tournament, marking his best career finish on tour. The 21-year-old, who moved from India to Winnipeg, Manitoba at age four, learned his swing by watching YouTube videos of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Due to the Canadian climate, he spent much of his youth practicing in indoor facilities, as outdoor play was limited to a few months per year.

Yellamaraju operates without a swing coach, relying on feedback from his father and caddie. His statistical profile at TPC Sawgrass was elite across multiple categories: he ranked fourth in strokes gained: putting (5.501), 15th in approach (4.503), and tied for second in driving distance with an average of 311.2 yards. This performance earned him $925,000 in prize money and propelled him from 216th to 145th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

McIlroy and Schauffele Round Out the Field

Rory McIlroy’s defense of his Players Championship title was hampered by a back injury that delayed his arrival until Wednesday. Without a practice round, McIlroy struggled on the greens but managed to make the cut, finishing in a tie for 46th at even par. While he expressed satisfaction that his body felt healthy after four days of competition, his participation in upcoming events before the Masters, scheduled for April 9-12 at Augusta National, remains uncertain.

Xander Schauffele showed signs of returning to major championship form after recovering from a rib injury that affected his 2025 season. Schauffele surged late on Sunday with birdies on three of his final four holes. His charge included a 20½-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to briefly hold the clubhouse lead at 11-under. Though he finished two strokes behind Young, Schauffele noted that his approach play was solid through the first two rounds and he did not miss a fairway during his final push, though he identified a need to improve putting from the 5- to 10-foot range.