Young Charges Up Leaderboard at Truist Championship, Sits Two Back of Fitzpatrick
Cameron Young continued his torrid play Saturday at Quail Hollow, firing an 8-under 63 to move within two shots of leader Alex Fitzpatrick at the Truist Championship.
Fitzpatrick, who earned his PGA Tour card just two weeks ago by winning the Zurich Classic with his brother Matt, sits at 14-under 199 through 54 holes after a third-round 64. Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan is alone in second at 13 under, also following a 64.
Young, fresh off a dominant six-stroke victory at last week’s Cadillac Championship at Doral, briefly threatened Rory McIlroy’s course record of 61. He reached 9 under for his round through 16 holes but couldn’t convert a birdie putt on 17 and made his only bogey at the closing hole after an errant drive.
“I know the record was 10 under and I knew I was at nine,” Young said. “But that wasn’t my thought. I was just trying to hit it somewhere right of the hole on 17 and hit a couple good shots on 18. Unfortunately had one of my few bad swings of the day on 18.”
Young’s spectacular round included an eagle at the par-5 7th, where he launched a fairway bunker shot from 238 yards to within a few feet. That sparked a run where he birdied six of his next nine holes.
The 27-year-old has been nearly unstoppable lately, winning three of his last 14 starts including The Players Championship in March. Those victories have vaulted him to No. 3 in the world rankings.
“I’m playing great,” Young said. “There is not a ton going on in my head, which is I think a very good thing. There is all kinds of stuff, but it’s nothing complicated. I’m thinking about shots and I’m thinking about my execution and that’s mainly where my head is at.”
While Matt Fitzpatrick entered the week as one of the favorites, it’s his younger brother Alex who’s stealing the spotlight. The rookie rebounded from his only bogey Saturday with a precise tee shot to 8 feet on the par-3 17th, converting the birdie to reach 14 under.
Alex has clearly benefited from his brother’s experience as a major champion and world No. 4.
“I feel like he’s been and done everything that I want to do in the game — whether that’s Ryder Cup and win majors,” said Alex, who tied for ninth last week at Doral. “So having him being around and me being there for all of that, I felt like I got a really good sense of what it takes and what the atmosphere is like.”
Reitan, another rookie, made his move late in the round with four birdies over his final six holes. He previously gained attention at the Masters before fading on the weekend.
“Just the opportunity to be near the leaderboard on a Sunday at a PGA Tour event, you know, rookie season — I’m just over the moon about that,” Reitan said.
Nicolai Hojgaard and second-round leader Sungjae Im are four shots back at 10 under. Im struggled coming home, making two bogeys over his final four holes for a 70. On the 15th, he skulled a bunker shot that hit a grandstand and rolled back across the green.
Justin Thomas, J.J. Spaun and Tommy Fleetwood sit five shots behind at 9 under.
McIlroy, a four-time champion at Quail Hollow, had a day to forget. Despite opening with a birdie, the world No. 2 and recent Masters champion made six bogeys before his next birdie at the 15th. His 75 dropped him 13 shots off the pace.
Sunday’s final round sets up as a compelling battle between the red-hot Young and Fitzpatrick, who’s trying to capitalize on the momentum from his recent team victory with his brother.
