Cameron Young delighted with "HUGE HONOUR" of PGA Tour Rookie of the Year crown
Cameron Young was presented with the Arnold Palmer Trophy by Webb Simpson at Congaree Golf Club. He was the outstanding rookie on the PGA Tour in 2022 by far.
Cameron Young paid tribute to Arnold Palmer after he was presented with the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award ahead of the CJ Cup, the most foregone conclusion in all of golf in 2022.
Young, 25, described winning the prestigious award named after the King himself as a "huge honour," receiving 94% of the vote conducted by his fellow players.
It has been a monumental year for Young who incredibly came second five times and achieved two other third-place finishes. Two of these finishes came at the PGA Championship and the Open Championship.
Not only did he impress at regular PGA Tour events, but on the biggest stage too. He earned over $6.5 million in his breakthrough season, a figure he can't grumble at despite being heavily linked to the LIV Golf Tour at one stage.
"It's very special. I know the namesake, Arnold Palmer, was a giant in the game of golf and we have him to thank for a lot of what we do today, what the PGA Tour is," Young said.
“I was devastated that I had nothing still.”
Cameron Young’s journey from no status to 2-time #KornFerryTour winner to @PGATOUR Rookie of the Year is nothing short of remarkable. pic.twitter.com/bFgozBcASQ— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) October 19, 2022
"Just to be related to that in some small way is very cool. I know we had a very strong rookie class and I know it's voted by my peers, so it's a huge honour to be thought of in that way.
Young was incredibly unfortunate not to win the Claret Jug back in July at St Andrews. On a day that was meant to belong to Rory McIlroy, Young pushed the eventual winner, Cameron Smith, all the way.
Sitting two shots behind on the 18th hole at the home of golf, the American drove the green and made an eagle which made Smith sweat one last time before closing out the tournament.
Young has risen to 16th in the world rankings and he made his debut for yet another winning American Presidents Cup team in September. His performance at The Open was key to achieving both of these things.
"Probably St. Andrews. (The Open at St. Andrews) is just a different experience. The Open is about the most fans we see all year, maybe with the exception of Waste Management (Phoenix Open)," Young added.
"They love golf over there (in Scotland). To walk into the town centre to play the 18th hole at St. Andrews is different than anything you find anywhere else. So just knowing the history there and to play well that week was very cool."
