Ryan Lavner believes that Cameron Young would get his vote for the PGA Tour Player of the Year, as he suggested how many of Scottie Scheffler’s peers will reflect on the world number one’s season.
It has been a strange year for Scheffler. When he won on his first start of the season at The American Express, many would have assumed that he was going to dominate once again.
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Statistically, the 30-year-old has been dominant. However, Scheffler has not been able to turn the promise he has shown into further victories.
It is quite incredible to think that Scheffler has not won again since his victory at La Quinta.
Cameron Young backed to win the PGA Tour Player of the Year award as things stand
Of course, Chris Gotterup staked his own claim to be considered the PGA Tour Player of the Year with his third win of the season at the John Deere Classic this past week.
Gotterup is not the only player to win multiple times this year.
And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Ryan Lavner suggested that he would look elsewhere if voting for the best player now.
He also spoke about what many will make of Scheffler’s season.
“One player I’m going to mention who I would actually, if I were to vote right now on July 6th for my PGA Tour Player of the Year, I actually think I would vote for Cameron Young. Players Champion, won a signature event in going away fashion, was right there at The Masters at the year’s first major. To me, obviously we don’t need to vote right now, but I think I would give Cameron Young a slight edge over Matt Fitzpatrick, based on the tournaments he has won,” he said.
“But I also think Scottie Scheffler, if we were voting right now on July 6th, he would warrant a lot of consideration from his PGA Tour peers. I know that his only win came back in January at The American Express, but statistically, he is still head and shoulders over every player on the PGA Tour, not just strokes gained total, but scoring average, the statistical dominance through the bag. He’s first in birdie average, he’s first in bogey avoidance. I know it’s not been a 2024 Scottie Scheffler year where he’s winning nine times around the world.
“I know it’s just a single victory, and it was in what is still considered a full field event on the PGA Tour, but I still think it would probably be split alongside Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young, and Scottie Scheffler for PGA Tour Player of the Year.”
The player who arguably should be ahead of both Cameron Young and Scottie Scheffler
It is fair to say that there are several contenders for the Player of the Year award as things stand.
As Lavner notes, Young and Matt Fitzpatrick have won multiple events. Meanwhile, Gotterup was the first player in 2026 to win more than once.
But there is another name that needs to be considered. In fact, it concerns the player who may have the strongest claim.
Wyndham Clark is the only player to have won a major as well as another event in 2026. Of course, Clark won The CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. And he swiftly followed that by clinching his second US Open title at Shinnecock Hills last month.
Clark has not had an amazing year from start to finish. It says a lot that he sits eighth in the Presidents Cup qualification standings despite winning a major.
But it is significant that he has won more than once, particularly with one of those victories coming at one of the four biggest events of the year.
It is certainly looking set to be the most open Player of the Year race the PGA Tour has seen for some time.
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