American pars 18th for victory after birdie on 17
Fitzpatrick had led at Sawgrass before late slip
The PGA Tour might have lost out in the court of public opinion over whether the Players Championship could be a major. However, the level of drama as shadows lengthened on this Sawgrass Sunday set the tournament aside from most others. It came down to Cameron Young versus Matt Fitzpatrick. As Fitzpatrick agonisingly missed for par on the 72nd hole, Young had secured the biggest win of his career. He had emerged triumphant from a sporting thriller.
Fitzpatrick will rue the 18th hole. He had taken a double bogey there on Saturday. As his tee shot in round four sprayed right and into pine straw, the Yorkshireman was in trouble again. Young had battered his drive 375 yards down the fairway. It was an advantage the New Yorker was unwilling to waste.
Fitzpatrick will take little consolation from the fact he was in the depths of despair when missing the Players cut in 2025. A year on, he was part of another painful scenario. The only point in which Young led this tournament was the final hole on the final day. Talk about impeccable timing.
