Sport

Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million

The 28-year-old goes wire-to-wire at Trump National Doral, beating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by six strokes and climbing to third in the world rankings.

4 min
Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million
The 28-year-old goes wire-to-wire at Trump National Doral, beating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by six strokes and climCredit · Golf Channel

Key facts

  • Cameron Young won the Cadillac Championship with a 19-under 269 total, six strokes ahead of Scottie Scheffler.
  • Young earned $3.6 million from the $20 million purse, his second win in four starts after The Players Championship.
  • The victory moves Young to a career-best-tying No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
  • Scheffler recorded his third consecutive runner-up finish since the Masters.
  • The Cadillac Championship was the first PGA Tour event at Trump National Doral since 2016.
  • The 72-man field competed on the 7,739-yard Blue Monster course, one of the longest on tour.
  • Young joined Justin Rose as the only wire-to-wire winners this season; Rose's margin was seven strokes.

Wire-to-wire triumph at the Blue Monster

Cameron Young seized control of the Cadillac Championship from the opening round and never let go, posting a 19-under 269 to win by six shots at Trump National Doral's Blue Monster course. The 28-year-old carded rounds of 64, 67, 70 and 68, leading by one, five and six strokes after each of the first three days. He closed with a 4-under 68 that included three birdies on each side, offset by two bogeys on the inward nine. Young's wire-to-wire victory is only the second of the PGA Tour season, after Justin Rose's seven-stroke win at the Farmers Insurance Open. The margin of victory is the largest since Rose's, underscoring Young's dominance on a course that had not hosted a Tour event since the WGC-Cadillac Championship in 2016.

A $3.6 million payday and a leap in the rankings

For his efforts, Young collected $3.6 million from the $20 million purse, the largest of any signature event this season. The win also earned him 700 FedExCup points, lifting him to third in the season-long standings. Scottie Scheffler, despite finishing second, regained the FedExCup lead, while Matt Fitzpatrick slipped to second. Young's victory vaults him to a career-best-tying No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking. A year ago, the Wake Forest product was outside the top 60. He has now won three times in his last 14 Tour starts, including The Players Championship and the Wyndham Championship, erasing any narrative that he was among the best players without a title.

Scheffler's streak of runner-up finishes continues

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished solo second at 13 under, his third consecutive runner-up since the Masters. He earned $2.18 million for the week. Ben Griffin took solo third at 12 under, pocketing $1.38 million, while Adam Scott, Sepp Straka and Si Woo Kim tied for fourth at 11 under, each earning $980,000. Scheffler's consistent high finishes have kept him atop the world ranking, but he has been unable to convert recent opportunities into wins. The three-time winner in 2026 took the week off after the Cadillac Championship and is scheduled to return at this week's Truist Championship.

Generous payouts down the leaderboard

The $20 million purse ensured deep payouts: everyone who finished tied for ninth or better earned at least $505,000. The top 36 all made six figures, with the 36th-place finisher taking home $104,000. Even the last-place player, Chandler Blanchet, earned $40,200. Notable names further down the list include Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas, who tied for 23rd at $209,000 each, and Viktor Hovland, who tied for 38th at $95,000. Collin Morikawa finished tied for 62nd, earning $44,200. The full payout structure ranged from $3.6 million for first to $40,200 for 72nd.

Absent stars and a condensed schedule

The Cadillac Championship, the fifth signature event of the season, marked the PGA Tour's return to South Florida after an eight-year hiatus. The 7,739-yard Blue Monster course, redesigned by Gil Hanse ahead of the 2014 WGC event, proved a stern test. However, the field was missing several top players: Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele and Ludvig Åberg all skipped the event, citing the condensed schedule that features three signature events between the Masters and the PGA Championship. Their absence opened opportunities for the 72-man field, and Young seized it decisively. The win continues a remarkable stretch for the 28-year-old, who also posted a T3 at the Masters between his two victories.

Young's ascent reshapes the season narrative

With three wins in 14 starts, Young has transformed from a promising talent into a bona fide star. His wire-to-wire performance at Doral, on a course known for its length and difficulty, signals that his game is peaking at the right time. The victory also pushes his 2026 earnings past $10 million. As the Tour heads into the Truist Championship and beyond, Young's trajectory will be a central storyline. For Scheffler, the string of runner-up finishes raises questions about whether he can regain his winning form before the majors. The Cadillac Championship, in its inaugural edition, has already delivered a defining moment of the season.

The bottom line

  • Cameron Young won the Cadillac Championship wire-to-wire, finishing at 19 under par, six strokes ahead of Scottie Scheffler.
  • Young earned $3.6 million, the largest winner's share from a $20 million purse, and moved to No. 3 in the world rankings.
  • Scottie Scheffler recorded his third consecutive runner-up finish since the Masters, earning $2.18 million.
  • The tournament was the first PGA Tour event at Trump National Doral since 2016, with a 72-man field on the 7,739-yard Blue Monster course.
  • Payouts were deep: the top 36 finishers all earned at least six figures, with last place taking $40,200.
  • Several top players, including Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, skipped the event due to the condensed schedule.
Galerie
Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million — image 1Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million — image 2Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million — image 3Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million — image 4Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million — image 5Cameron Young dominates Cadillac Championship, pockets $3.6 million — image 6
More on this