PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The Gamers Championship might not be the fifth main, however the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion had one other thrilling end Sunday at TPC Sawgrass.
Cameron Younger scored the largest win of his profession, chasing down 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick on the ultimate two holes and successful by one stroke.
Younger shot a 4-under 68 within the closing spherical to complete at 13-under 275, one stroke forward of Fitzpatrick and two strokes forward of Xander Schauffele.
Younger was the hero of the U.S. Ryder Cup crew that misplaced 15-13 to Europe at New York’s Bethpage Black State Park in September, ending with a 3-1 file and 4 factors.
That efficiency earned him the reward of many followers Sunday at TPC Sawgrass.
“It positively helps,” Younger stated. “It simply offers you some kind of context for how one can carry out and how one can assume if you really feel that manner. Nerves are laborious to take care of. Your senses are sort of heightened.”
Let’s have a look again at who did properly and who did not do properly at The Gamers Championship.
Winner: Cameron Younger
It took Younger 94 begins to get his first PGA Tour win, and there have been some painful studying moments alongside the way in which. His seven runner-up finishes throughout that span have been essentially the most by a tour golfer since 1983.
After lastly scoring his first win on the Wyndham Championship in August 2025, he did not have to attend that lengthy for his second win.
The 28-year-old caught Fitzpatrick with a memorable birdie on the enduring par-3 seventeenth, then beat him with a par on the equally troublesome 18th.
“The ambiance within the stadium is unbelievable,” Younger stated. “The seventeenth is so loud. Every part is up, so you already know everybody’s eyes are on you. So there’s nowhere to cover. And I really feel like I stepped up very well and hit numerous good photographs in the previous couple of holes. So I am very happy with that.”
If there have been any doubts about Younger’s skill to shut out the win, the previous Wake Forest star answered with a mammoth 375-yard drive on the ultimate gap, together with a shocking 57-degree wedge shot and a 9.5-foot birdie putt on the island inexperienced seventeenth. This was the longest drive by a participant at No. 18 at TPC Sawgrass within the Shotlink period (since 2004).
“I drove very properly final week, however this week I drove very common,” Younger stated. “I did not really feel like I used to be in a rhythm in any respect. I wasn’t hitting it the way in which I needed to. And eventually I used to be capable of hit some good photographs on the again. And yeah, the 18th ball, my thought course of for that ball was, one, be certain I keep true to my line, and two, I will hit the most effective shot of my life right here.”
The 26-year-old began the ultimate spherical with a three-stroke lead and completed the flip at even par on Sunday to take a two-shot lead. Nevertheless, issues went awry within the eleventh and twelfth. He took a poor strategy swing from 267 yards together with his 7-wood, sliced the ball to the appropriate, and hit a bogey 6.
After that mistake, Oberg appeared to get grasping on the quick par-4 twelfth and took his driver off the tee, which compounded the issue. He efficiently hooked his drive to the left and hit a double-bogey six, virtually knocking him out of competition for the championship.
“Driver goes to be an choice, so we had some sort of sport plan, however clearly the wind immediately was a bit bit completely different than what we have skilled. It was a very good wind for that,” Oberg stated of hitting the driving force on the twelfth. “However yeah, it was a poor swing, a very poor swing, and it positively stung a bit bit.”
Oberg shot a 4-over 76 within the closing spherical to tie for fifth place at 9 underneath.
“You are all the time going to really feel nervous,” he stated. “I used to be positively nervous this morning, I used to be nervous yesterday, I used to be nervous Thursday and Friday. I believe crucial factor for me is to consider successful, however once I’m taking part in golf, I strive to not get forward of myself.”
“I assumed I dealt with the entrance 9 very well. I felt like I dealt with it to the purpose the place I positively may have improved a couple of factors right here and there. The again 9 was disappointing. I hope I can do some higher subsequent time.”
Few golf followers had in all probability heard of the PGA Tour rookie earlier than final weekend. He went 10 underneath for the ultimate 36 holes in his first Gamers Championship begin, and tied for fifth at 9 underneath, his finest end on tour.
Ieramaraj was born in India and moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, when he was 4 years outdated. He discovered find out how to swing a membership by watching YouTube movies of the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. In Canada, they practiced in indoor amenities and will solely play outside a couple of months a yr.
“I do know I can compete and I’ve numerous confidence in myself, however confidence based mostly on outcomes is one thing that nobody can imitate,” Yelamaraju stated. “When you do one thing, you already know you are able to do extra. In fact, regardless of the place you find yourself, you already know you are able to do it, and also you simply step up from there.”
Yelamaraju would not but have a swing coach — he by no means had one — and depends on his father and caddy to offer him suggestions.
Each side of his sport was excellent at The Gamers. He completed fourth in strokes gained in placing (5.501), fifteenth in strategy (4.503) and tied for second in driving distance (311.2 yards).
After his end at TPC Sawgrass, Yelamaraju jumped from No. 216 to No. 145 within the Official World Golf Rankings. He additionally raised $925,000.
“I all the time need to go and win each event, however that isn’t realistically potential,” stated Yelamaraju. “I simply needed to play the most effective golf I may, one shot at a time. I stayed affected person. I by no means gave up and fought till the top. That is all I needed.”
Loser: Rory McIlroy
On account of a again damage, McIlroy was unable to supply any critical offense throughout his Gamers Championship protection. He didn’t arrive at TPC Sawgrass till Wednesday and didn’t take part in any apply rounds. He regarded rusty, particularly on the greens.
Let’s have fun McIlroy’s laborious work and success. He completed tied for forty sixth at even par.
McIlroy wasn’t positive if he would play once more earlier than the Masters, the primary main event of the season, to be held April 9-12 at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership.
McIlroy stated, “I am glad I bought by way of the 4 days and I really feel good bodily.” “My scores over the weekend might not have mirrored that, however I really feel like my sport bought a bit bit higher because the week went on. I hit the ball properly, however I simply could not make something on the greens.”
Winner: Xander Schauffele
It was solely a matter of time earlier than Schauffele began taking part in like a serious championship contender once more, and he began to seek out his groove at TPC Sawgrass.
After battling a rib damage for a lot of 2025, Schauffele birdied three of his closing 4 holes to offer himself an opportunity at The Gamers. That included an 11-under shot on No. 18, when he sank 20.5 toes to take the lead within the clubhouse.
In the long run it wasn’t sufficient.
It would not be stunning to see the two-time main champion rejoin the fray on the Masters.
“There have been numerous good issues,” Schauffele stated of his efficiency at TPC Sawgrass. “I believe my strategy was actually good up till the primary few rounds. I believe I used to be fairly stable this week. I did not miss any fairways. (I) need to clear up my putter a bit bit. I really feel like I’ve missed some putters within the 5- to 10-foot vary. Aside from that, I’ve bought time.”
