Cameron Young delivers epic performance as U.S. opens Ryder Cup with dominant win at Bethpage Black

Cameron Young provided a vivid bright spot for the United States on Day One of the Ryder Cup, teaming with Justin Thomas to rout Europe in four-ball at Bethpage Black, 6 & 5.

Young and Thomas defeated Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard in the day’s most one-sided match, delivering a clear message to the European team as play shifted to Saturday. The result gave the U.S. a fast start in front of a large home crowd, and it underscored Young's surge to the top of the U.S. roster in the lead-up to the event.

Young, a New York native who grew up in Scarborough in Westchester County and learned the game at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, has spent more than a decade chasing this moment. Bethpage Black was announced as the host site in 2014 when he was 16, and the anticipation surrounding his potential Ryder Cup appearance has built ever since. He was part of the U.S. team in 2023 but was left off the roster by captain Zach Johnson; this year he earned his spot under captain Keegan Bradley after one of the hottest runs in recent months.

It was a day that had Young self-effacing in victory but clearly impressed those who watched. “It’s pretty special,” Young said after the win. “I love this place, and this is a team we worked really hard to make. We’re just super grateful. To have the opportunity to play today alongside [Thomas] in front of these fans is pretty special.”

The performance drew praise from Justin Thomas, who admitted he was almost mesmerized by his partner’s play. “I really just kind of sat back and watched the show,” Thomas said. “I tried to help when I could. I’m just so happy for Cam and I’m proud of him. Playing in your first Ryder Cup is really hard, but playing in front of your home fans, I would imagine, is even harder. He definitely played like the veteran today. It’s been fun watching his game progress, and I’m glad I got to sit alongside the show today.”

Young’s run began with a birdie on No. 2 to put the U.S. in front, 1-up, and the wedge work and putter stayed hot as they moved to the turn 3-up after a birdie on No. 9. The onslaught continued after the turn with a birdie on No. 12 to extend the margin to 5-up, effectively sealing the match before the closing holes. Young capped the day with a birdie on No. 13, finishing with five birdies across the 13 holes he played.

Bradley acknowledged Young’s performance as a milestone for the team. “It’s really cool to see,” the U.S. captain said. “He came back to his home state at a golf course that he’s played. I was really proud to go out there and watch him play the way he did. He played awesome. He’s been playing great for a long time. We’re excited to have him in the lineup tomorrow.”

With Friday’s result in the books, Young was slated to remain in the lead pairing on Saturday morning, teaming with Bryson DeChambeau in a foursomes match against Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Aberg—the kind of assignment that could set the tone for the rest of the week. The chemistry between Young and DeChambeau will be watched closely by fans and analysts alike as the U.S. seeks to capitalize on momentum built by his strong showing on home soil.

The day carried a personal note for Young as well. He won the New York State Open at Bethpage Black as an amateur in 2017, shooting 64 in the final round and winning in a playoff. That performance remains a touchstone for a player who has now realized the national stage he long imagined, and whose ascent has felt both swift and inevitable to many observers.

Thomas said the scene was something to behold, and Young’s hometown support made the moment all the more meaningful. “What we did today isn’t easy,” Thomas said. “He stepped up, every situation, every time he could. It was really, really impressive to watch, and I’m very proud that he’s my partner.”

As the Ryder Cup at Bethpage continues, questions will inevitably turn to how the U.S. can maintain the level of play shown in Friday’s four-ball. If Young’s performance is any indication, Friday’s breakthrough could be a sign of a deeper, more sustainable wave of American form entering the weekend. It remains to be seen how the team cohesion and individual form translate to the longer formats, but the start was undeniably noteworthy for the U.S. and for Young personally.

As play shifts to the weekend, Young’s role in the U.S. lineup will be one of the most watched storylines of the Ryder Cup, a personal milestone wrapped in a larger national stage. For now, the moment remains a proof point that the long wait for this moment—11 years in the making for Young, and a lifetime for fans in the New York area—produced a decisive, memorable result at Bethpage Black.