Young snatches Players title from Fitzpatrick

Tuesday, 17 March 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cameron Young

Cameron Young snatched the prestigious Players Championship title from Matt Fitzpatrick’s grasp in a pulsating finish at TPC Sawgrass.

Fitzpatrick, looking to become the first Englishman to win the PGA Tour’s flagship event, led by one on the 17th tee but a par-bogey finish cost him as Young closed birdie-par to complete the biggest victory of his career by one stroke.

“The nerves kicked in over the eight-inch putt on the last, the hole looked really small,” said Young, who shot a four-under-par 68 to win his second PGA Tour title on 13 under.

“You just know all eyes are right there on you. There’s nowhere to hide, and I feel like I stepped up really well and hit a bunch of good shots those last couple holes, so I’m very proud of that.”

And the Yorkshireman came mightily close to claiming the $ 4.5 million (£ 3.4 million) winner’s purse from the $ 25 million (£ 18.9 million) prize fund as he tussled with playing partner Young down the stretch, while Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and 2024 Open champion Xander Schauffele also challenged.

MacIntyre’s hopes eventually ended in the water on the 16th as he signed for a 69 to finish fourth on 10 under, one shot behind playing partner Schauffele, who had three birdies in his final four holes to also shoot a 69 and climb to third on 11 under.

Young missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the last to clinch the title, giving Fitzpatrick the chance to force a play-off but his eight-foot effort grazed the right edge of the hole and the American tapped in to win.

The pair, New York Golf club team-mates in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s indoor TGL set-up, then shared a warm embrace on the green.