Cam Young played against Justin Rose in Sunday singles for Bethpage Black during last year’s Ryder Cup.
Young evaded Rose in dramatic fashion with a birdie on the final hole to close out the match and secure points for Team USA.
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Young said afterward that he was surprised, especially since Rose held a strong lead until he pulled one point at the 13th, then they were even until the 18th.
Rose got one point back with a nice shot from behind the trees, making par and cutting the lead over Young to two points.
The way Rose fought back highlighted why he has built a reputation as a reliable match play player throughout his career.
But Young didn’t care. He remained focused even as Rose began to close the gap.
The New Yorker remained calm throughout and finally found what he needed when it mattered most, getting him over the line for Team USA.
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Cam Young reveals why Justin Rose caught him off guard during Ryder Cup game
Photo by: Karl Lesseen/Getty Images
The matchup between Young and Rose at Bethpage in September was one of the standout singles matches of the Ryder Cup, with both players displaying their quality from start to finish.
Both players played great golf, posting a best ball score of 8-under 62.
Young ultimately came out on top, but he later admitted that something Rose did right before he made the final putt really surprised him.
Appearing on the Smiley Show, Young was asked how he felt before making the winning putt against Rose.
He admitted:
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“I felt like I made a good read and I felt like I was in a position to make some good putts, so it just depends on what happens.
“In a way, when he was set up on the ball, I was sure he wasn’t close to reading him.
“I just remember him getting ready and saying, ‘All day I felt like I was going to go in, but I didn’t go in.
“Sometimes you can kind of understand it if you look at it from a different angle, and that was one of them.
“I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Either I’m crazy or I’m not going to make it. I’m going to make the putt and win this game.'”
“So he ends up forgetting one cup.”
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Cam Young looks like he’ll have a breakout year in 2026
In August, Young finally made his breakthrough on the PGA Tour, earning his first win at the Wyndham Championship after 94 starts.
This victory was followed up with a strong performance at the Ryder Cup, where he handled pressure well and had a big impact on Team USA.
Now, the question is whether he can carry that same form onto the PGA Tour and into major championships.
The American has a lot of power, and when his iron play comes into play, there aren’t many players who can match him.
He also made some beautiful putts throughout the week at Bethpage Black.
The numbers also support that. He ranks second in total strokes gained out of all 24 Ryder Cup players, highlighting how strong his overall game was.
After what we saw at Bethpage Black in September, Young seems ready to take another step forward this season.
