Rookie(s) of the Year

My #6 moment of 2022 was having the pleasure of watching Sahith Theegala and Cameron Young compete in their first season on the PGA Tour. What a year for these two young men!

Cameron Young, a 2021 Korn Ferry Tour graduate, had an incredible rookie season on Tour - making his Presidents Cup debut, finished runner-up 5 times and ending the season at number 19 in the Fed-Ex cup standings. His most memorable top 5 finish (in my opinion) was at The Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. He came up one stroke short in his debut at The Open, finished just behind Cam Smith. Not letting a final round 3-putt bogey on the first hole stop him, he went on to make seven birdies and one eagle to finish the round 7 under par, with a tournament total of -19. Young would go on to earn PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and I can only imagine that is just the start of his, sure to be, memorable career.

In February, Sahith Theegala would go in to the final round of the WM Phoenix Open as the leader. He would step up to the tee on 17 tied with Patrick Cantlay and 1 shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler. He would hit his 2 hybrid to the green….I mean through the green and into the water. A heartbreaking moment. He would go on to bogey 17 and par 18 to get knocked out of contention…he would end tied for 3.

In June, Theegala would walk to the 18th tee at the Travelers Championship leading by 1 stroke. He would attempt to hit his tee shot as a cut, but it didn't it cut. Instead, it ended up in a fairway bunker…near the lip of the fairway bunker. 123 yards to the hole and he didn't hesitate - he went for the green. His ball didn't clear the bunker. He would go on to make bogey and finish tied for second.

Theegala would go on to win the QBE Shootout with Tom Hoge, to earn his first win on the PGA Tour, but he definitely has a bright future ahead!