Cameron Young Solving ‘Tricky’ TPC Sawgrass, Contending At 2026 Players
cameron young moved into contention at TPC Sawgrass on Friday, carding a 5-under 67 that left him 9 under for the week and in the mix as THE PLAYERS Championship heads into the weekend.
Cameron Young Contending After Strong Second Round
Young climbed into solo second in the morning wave after a six-birdie round that produced a 5-under 67 on Friday. That score put him at 9 under for the tournament, one shot behind Xander Schauffele and trailing the halfway leader by three strokes.
The showing continued a recent run of form: a T-7 at the Genesis Invitational followed by a T-3 at Bay Hill came after a T-55 at the AT& T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, evidence of momentum Young said he has built into the early part of the season.
Where He Stands On The Leaderboard
Ludvig Aberg leads the event at 12 under after a second-round surge. Xander Schauffele sits two strokes back at 10 under, with Young a further shot behind at 9 under. The leaderboard also shows other notable names at varying scores, while the cut line fell at two over with the top 65 and ties advancing.
Young’s position at the midway point puts him squarely in contention for the weekend, and his second-round performance moved him up from earlier in the event when he had struggled at this course in previous years.
Sawgrass ‘Tricky’ Test and Recent Confidence Boost
Young described TPC Sawgrass with one word: “tricky, ” noting the course penalizes indecision. He said that being decisive and clear on strategy helped him put together a strong second round, and that he and his caddie have focused on preparation and planning.
Now ranked 15th in the world with one PGA Tour victory to his name, Young said his mindset has shifted following a stellar Ryder Cup performance last fall and his first tour win. His stated goals for the season include competing for major championships and getting comfortable in contention at big events.
Last year at THE PLAYERS Championship Young finished tied for 61st at six over; this week he arrives with the explicit aim of improving on that result as play continues at the Pete Dye stadium course.
As the tournament moves into the weekend, Young’s blend of recent form and a clear approach to the course has put him among those to watch at TPC Sawgrass through the remaining rounds.
