Cam Young has quickly become one of the most dominant forces in professional golf over the past year. It took him 94 starts on the PGA Tour to capture his first win at the Wyndham Championship, but since that breakthrough, he hasn't looked back. The 28-year-old New Yorker went on to play a starring role for Team USA at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black and added a victory at The Players Championship in March. Now ranked fourth in the world, there's a strong case to be made that Young is actually the best player on the planet right now.

What's changed? His putting. Young's improved work on the greens has taken his game to another level in 2026, and he seems to be in contention nearly every single week. But for those who knew him back in his college days, this rise comes as no surprise—even if the putting was once a question mark.

Alex Fitzpatrick, the English pro who spent time with Young at Wake Forest, recently shared his thoughts on the world No. 4 during an appearance on Happy Hour with Smylie Kaufman. Fitzpatrick was a freshman when Young was a senior, and the two spent plenty of time together on and off the course.

"He hit it a long way. His chipping was unbelievable, great approach play," Fitzpatrick recalled. "I think the only thing that kind of stopped him was his putting. But it was either he was winning or he was finishing 40th—there was no in-between."

Fitzpatrick also noted how Young and a few other seniors took him under their wing. "They kind of took a shine to me. I spent a lot of time with them—maybe more than I should have—but it was great."

Young has obviously come a long way since those college days. He was always a supremely talented player, but as Fitzpatrick pointed out, his putting held him back—both in college and during his early years on the PGA Tour. That all changed over the past nine months or so. Now ranked seventh in strokes gained putting, Young has turned what was once a weakness into a weapon.

For fans and aspiring golfers, Young's journey is a reminder that even the most gifted players need time to round out their game. And for those looking to elevate their own performance, it all starts with the right gear—and the right mindset.