Cam Young went up against Justin Rose in the Sunday singles at Bethpage Black during last year’s Ryder Cup.
Young secured a point for Team USA, closing out the match with a birdie on the final hole to edge past Rose in dramatic fashion.
Afterwards, Young said he was surprised to be level heading to the 18th, especially after holding a strong lead until Rose pulled one back on 13.
Rose had clawed one back with an excellent shot from deep in the trees, scrambling for par and cutting Young’s lead down to two.
The way Rose fought back highlighted just why he’s built such a reputation as a reliable match play competitor over his career.
But Young did not let it affect him. He kept his focus even after Rose started closing the gap.
The New Yorker stayed composed throughout and ultimately found what he needed when it mattered most to get over the line for Team USA.
Cam Young reveals what caught him off guard about Justin Rose during their Ryder Cup clash
The September matchup between Young and Rose at Bethpage was one of the standout singles battles of the Ryder Cup, with both players showing off their quality throughout.
Both played some fantastic golf, combining for a best-ball score of 8-under par 62.
In the end, it was Young who came out on top, though he later admitted that something Rose did just before his final putt left him genuinely surprised.
Speaking on the Smylie Show, Young was asked how he felt before making his winning putt against Rose.
He admitted: “Yeah, I didn’t know I was gonna make it.
“I felt like I had a good read, and I felt like I was in a position to hit a good putt, so it was just kind of up to what happened.
“It kind of hit me, when he was set up over the ball, I was pretty sure he was not close with his read.
“I just I remember him setting up to and I was like, ‘All day, it’s looked like it’s gonna go in and that one just didn’t to me.
“Sometimes just from a different angle, you can kind of tell. It was one of those.
“I was kind of in disbelief, I was like, ‘Either I’m nuts, or that’s not that’s not going in, and I’m gonna have a putt to win this match’.
“So he does end up missing, like, a cup left.”
Cam Young looks set for a breakout year in 2026
In August, Young finally broke through on the PGA Tour, picking up his first win at the Wyndham Championship after 94 starts.
That win was followed by a strong showing at the Ryder Cup, where he handled pressure well and made a real impact for Team USA.
Now, the question is whether he can bring that same form to the PGA Tour and carry it into major championships.
The American has serious power, and when his iron play is dialled in, there are not many who can match him.
He also putted beautifully all week long at Bethpage Black.
The numbers back that up too – he ranked second in strokes gained total among all 24 players at the Ryder Cup, highlighting just how strong his overall game was.
After what we saw at Bethpage Black in September, Young looks poised to take another step forward this season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
