MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 5, 2023

Cameron Young

Quick Quotes

Q. How was the practice round? I know you have a new grip. How's that working for you?

CAMERON YOUNG: I don't know what new grip.

Q. Someone told me you're experimenting with a new grip.

CAMERON YOUNG: No. That might have been Will. I'm all the same.

Q. Google it, you've got a new grip, but don't believe it because it's not true.

CAMERON YOUNG: I don't think so. I changed all my grips a couple weeks ago, like my actual club grips, but nothing new this week.

Q. So what was that change a few weeks ago?

CAMERON YOUNG: Just from one of the harder core grips to a softer one.

Q. How's that working for you?

CAMERON YOUNG: It's been nice. I use the same ones I'm using now for almost a year, then went away from them for about a year. They kind of tear up your hands. Went back to them for a little bit of softer feel.

Q. You must be happy with your game right now. I know World Rankings, maybe they do, maybe they don't mean a lot to you. But just to see up there at 14 slowly progressing, you must be happy about your game heading into the Masters here as you prepare to win on the biggest stage.

CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah. I've been playing well, I feel like. The result in Austin was more reflective of it than a lot of them before that kind of early this season. But I feel like it's been going the right direction and just excited to get the week started.

Q. What has been going the right direction for you that maybe in the past has frustrated you a little bit or you've had to work your way through?

CAMERON YOUNG: I feel like I've just generally been more in control of my ball. I started to drive it a little better. My iron play has been a little better, and I feel like I'm starting to read some greens better than I have before.

Just all parts, I feel like kind of going the right direction.

Q. Does 13 work in your favor now that it's a little longer? I think you can really bomb it.

CAMERON YOUNG: I think it just makes it more comfortable. I don't think it necessarily plays that much more to my advantage, but I think it just makes the tee shot more comfortable for me.

Q. Can you characterize your last year here?

CAMERON YOUNG: I just didn't play very well. I think this is a hard place to play for your first time, and I probably wasn't as -- nearly as prepared as far as golf course analysis as I am this year.

I feel like I was much less comfortable generally playing on the PGA TOUR and majors and the Masters than I am today. I feel like I'm much more comfortable being here.

Q. Is there a particular moment or a shot last year where you really felt like (no microphone)?

CAMERON YOUNG: It's hard to remember. Honestly, I've tried to put a lot of the shots I hit that week out of my mind because there weren't many good ones.

Yeah, I think it's a place, especially if the wind blows, that there's some uncertainty. That back nine stretch, like 13, 15, 16 is really tricky if you're not really comfortable where you are.

Q. Did you do anything different this year in preparation?

CAMERON YOUNG: I came a little bit later. Last year I got here early on Sunday and kind of wore myself out a little bit. So this year I came in Monday afternoon. I've played maybe 27 holes in the two days -- or in three days.

Just feel a bit more rested. I think it's just a better way for me to go in general.

Q. Have you learned anything from Paul this week how to play this golf course differently?

CAMERON YOUNG: Yes. Yeah, I mean, his golf course analysis is unbelievable. I think this is his 21st Masters. He's still out there learning, which is unbelievable to me. I feel like every hole he picks something out and gets a new number that he hasn't had before.

His kind of attention to detail as far as noticing -- I mean, even just little flat spots that they put in around the greens and stuff that keep you from using slopes, he's unbelievable just with noticing some of those little things and bringing my attention to them.

So he's a tremendous resource for me, especially this week.

Q. Talk about how your putting has improved. In what aspects?

CAMERON YOUNG: I feel like I've gained some confidence just in the stroke itself and kind of understanding that -- I feel like my struggles are not stroke related or alignment. It's kind of just green reading. So I'm able to take some comfort knowing that, if I hit a 12-footer most of the time, I'm going to hit it how I want to. And if it just misses one way or the other, it's kind of a little misread or imperfections in the greens.

So I feel comfortable knowing that I feel like I've got some proof built up that I'm going to roll it where I need to. We've tried to learn a little bit of AimPoint just to simplify things for me. And I don't use it all the time, but here and there, you'll probably see me do it this week.

Q. Can you talk to me about how your home base being the Dye Preserve and living in Palm Beach County, how that has helped your progression at this stage in your career with all the PGA TOUR guys around, you're never short of someone to play with, right?

CAMERON YOUNG: I've been a member at the Dye for 3 1/2 years. They've been great to me there. It's just a great place to live. Life is very easy. There's obviously tons of good golf.

So the fact that the weather stays nice, especially the time of year that we're home for the most part in the fall and the winter, is a bonus, but it's just a nice place to live.

Q. Anybody you practice with the most?

CAMERON YOUNG: Honestly I mostly practice on my own. I'll play a little bit here and there with some different guys, but I'm still -- I feel like I mostly just practice on my own. I'm not huge playing a bunch of golf while I'm home. I like to hit balls and practice.

Q. When you look at what Scottie did last year (No microphone)?

CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, of course it can, but I'm not Scottie, and Paul's not Teddy. We're all different people. I think anything can happen. I don't think that necessarily has any bearing on what happens with us. Could go better than that, could go worse. Who knows?

But I've really enjoyed Paul's company. I think he does a great job, and I think he is, like I said, a huge resource to me moving forward.

Q. I know you spent some time here with your dad as a kid, I think as a marshal.

CAMERON YOUNG: He was a rules official.

Q. Oh, rules official. When you play certain holes here, do you sometimes remember some of your idols playing those exact same holes and it inspires you a little bit?

CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I've watched the tournament my whole life. I've seen all the famous shots that have been hit out here. I do remember some things from when I got to come to the practice rounds, I think it was 2007, but I don't remember a ton honestly.

I remember being here. I remember some of the holes, but honestly I understood what it was. Yeah, it's just obviously -- it's a cool place, and it's got tons of history. So it's nice to just be a part of it playing in the tournament.

Q. Cam, you were here last year obviously as a rookie and didn't have a lot of experience on the bag. What have the last few days been like with Paul's scouting reports?

CAMERON YOUNG: It's been great. I think he brings a lot of energy and a lot of information. So it's me kind of keep up and take it all inasmuch as I can so that, when we get to Thursday, I have things in the back of my mind about the golf course that I know, but I don't have to consciously think all the time about this putt is slower, this putt is faster, this one breaks a lot.

I think just getting a general feel for that during the practice rounds is very important for me so I can kind of clear my mind Thursday and try to go play some golf.

Q. I've known him a long time. He's pretty talkative. You strike me as being a little more on the quieter side. What's that dynamic like on the golf course?

CAMERON YOUNG: It's been great. He definitely brings my energy level up a bit, keeps me focused. It's great for me in that sense. I've been around him so much, it's very easy for me to talk to him. We have a good time out there. So it's been great.