Q. (No Microphone.)
CAMERON YOUNG: I don't know I just kind of felt like it was going to end up working out and it did. So that was kind of the end of it.
Q. You don't worry about much, do you?
CAMERON YOUNG: I try not to. That wasn't something I could control, so kind of is, we tried to do what was best for her and the baby and it ended up working out that I could come play.
Q. Favorite memory of this event?
CAMERON YOUNG: Collin and I were talking about it today. We played alternate shot and at Quail Hollow and I was really struggling putting. But it set up great for us because I was driving it really well and I hit all the drivers and he hit like I think it was like 13 of the iron shots or something and he's an unbelievable iron player. I finally had a, made like a 20-footer on 17 to win the match. And I just remember kind of having the most of the team there, it was like my first real experience of that. On a day where I was struggling with the putter, to make one that ended the match was pretty cool.
Q. In terms of your Tour career, such an individual sport week-to-week, you didn't play at Palmer Cup, did you, or Walker Cup?
CAMERON YOUNG: Nope.
Q. This is like your first team experience. What did that do for you going forward, just in terms of, I don't know if it's comfort or whatever.
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I think each time you end up on one of these teams you have an opportunity to build that side of it. For me the Presidents Cup in 2022 was my first year on Tour and, you know, with a bunch of guys I didn't know very well. At this point it's very different. A lot more fun for me in that sense. Just having a few extra years to get to know everybody and become friendly. Yeah, I think that makes it easier kind of as time goes on too.
Q. Why do you think the Americans have done so well in this event and not so well recently in the Ryder Cup?
CAMERON YOUNG: I don't know, I think it's hard to say. I mean these things can just be decided by who happens to be playing better. We've got a really, really good team of 12 guys this week and at the end of the day it does just come down to playing well and preparing well and that's what we're focused on doing these next couple days.
Q. Does that come up at all in conversations, the difference, the contrasts between the two events?
CAMERON YOUNG: Not really. I mean, we're all here with the goal to win the tournament this week. We're all here to win our individual matches. No, I haven't really heard much talk like that. I think we've kind of all just got our heads in a space trying to prepare for the matches on Thursday.
Q. Most likely to be late to the bus?
CAMERON YOUNG: Me, probably.
Q. Most likely to bring the energy?
CAMERON YOUNG: Xander, Justin.
Q. Most competitive?
CAMERON YOUNG: Scottie.
Q. Best dressed?
CAMERON YOUNG: We're in uniforms, so I feel like we all look all right.
Q. Most likely to talk the most trash?
CAMERON YOUNG: Xander. Maybe Gary. Scottie. There's a few.
Q. When you first started playing this you were kind of the young guy, now you're one of the leaders on the team. How has that changed for you?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, it's different. The biggest difference for me personally is I've had a few extra years to kind of get comfortable until the team room and then personally knowing everybody on the team, at least for the most part. Yeah, it's my second Presidents Cup, I don't feel like the veteran of the group. There's guys that have played in multiple more than that. You have a really good core group of guys a bit older than me that we all still lean on. Justin, Xander, Patrick, Russell. Those guys have been out here a long time. So I still feel like I'm kind of in between and I still lean on those guys a lot during these weeks.
Q. You played in a group with Gotterup today. Do you feel like you have a northeast connection?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, we kind of, we somehow missed each other like in the Met section stuff. He kind of just started playing in it just as I was leaving. We might have overlapped for like one event or something somewhere. But, yeah, I mean he's really easygoing. We have had a good time hanging out, playing together. He's obviously tremendously talented. I love watching him play golf. I never quite know what shot he's going to hit and that make it's highly entertaining. So, yeah, he's been great. Yeah, it's an easy connection.
Q. What was your comfort level going into that room last year for Ryder Cup?
CAMERON YOUNG: Last year? Much more than 2022 Presidents Cup. At that point I kind of just had been out long enough. I feel like you start to play more at home with the guys that live down in Florida and just kind of settle into like socially your kind of space. So that really, I was comfortable from that perspective last year. But there's tons of nerves and stuff associated with all the team events, so that was more the battle than being comfortable in the team room.
Q. I feel like in the past year you've obviously very much established yourself as one of the top guys in the sport. Curious for rookies, things like that, like what that process is of slowly getting brought into the group for lack of a better word, like you're one of the guys?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I think we have a really, really nice 12 guys. I think that kind of the, I hate to call 'em old, none of 'em are old, but the guys that have done this more than others happen to be a really, really nice group. I mean some of the guys that were really early to welcome me into kind of the group for that 2022 Presidents Cup, playing at home and stuff like that. So Justin, Xander, Patrick, all those guys, they're going to welcome people in and I think they have done a great job of that especially with Jackson and Bridgeman and CG are friends too, so I think that helps.
Q. Having gotten a number of reps playing for Team USA what do you feel like separates somebody in match play, what's the biggest key that you found playing in these formats?
CAMERON YOUNG: I think it just, it's almost easier to stay in it, I think. It's so easy for me I feel in match play just to do the task at hand, hit the shot that's in front of you. And weird things happen. You just have to keep yourself in it. In each hole. There's so many instances where it just looks like you're in a tough spot and the other guy makes a mistake or you do something weird and all of a sudden you're winning a hole that you shouldn't have won or tying a hole that you shouldn't have tied. And you just have to stay in it. I think it's a lot of fun in that sense.
Q. You played a few tournaments in the area, is that right?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, the Korn Ferry Tour. Yeah.
Q. What was the support like when you've been playing here in the past and what would it mean to have a regular tournament stop again in this area?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I mean there's tons of good golf up here. In terms of support for me, I don't have a tie here, but obviously for the Presidents Cup we are here on our home soil, so I'm sure it will be strongly in our favor this week.
Q. What about the support from the town?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, it's a great sports town. You're always going to get a great crowd. I feel it's similar to the northeast in that sense. You're going to get a good turn out and some passionate people. So it's a great place for an event like this. Yeah, there's tons of good golf, I would obviously love to come up and play a regular event.
Q. What do you remember from The Glen Club?
CAMERON YOUNG: It was cold and rainy. Yeah, I think the first day, the first day it was like 39 and pouring rain and blowing 20. And yeah I just remember it being so cold and getting in the car and just like sprinting home to the hotel to get in an a hot shower.
Q. When was it?
CAMERON YOUNG: I think it was actually the beginning of May. It was just horrendous, horrendous week.
Q. That could be why they're not here all the time.
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah. Yeah.
Q. Every single guy doesn't get to this stage without being a competitor. Is there a type of competitive aspect of being the Hunter versus the hunted that you thrive in? I mean, you guys are obviously heavy favorites in this event and have been, is there one that you prefer?
CAMERON YOUNG: I don't know, I mean, I'll take being the favorite any day, in my opinion. We got a lot of belief in the 12 guys we have on the team. We've got a great group of captains. So I think probably earned being the favorite as a group and from where I sit I think that's a good thing.
Q. What have you learned over the last couple of international experiences about camaraderie and teamwork. I mean, so much is built on that aspect of it?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, it is, for sure. The first thing about these teams is it's a huge achievement to make them. And then from there you have a tremendous opportunity to have a great experience. Getting to know some of the other players better and I mean, the golf in these team events is just great. It's so unlike anything else we do. It's more fun. You're more nervous. It's more competitive in a sense. I think that's a lot of the reason that we all enjoy these so much.
Q. Have you played in the Chicago area?
CAMERON YOUNG: A couple times.
Q. How do you like this Midwest area?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I mean for me it's, to me it feels like the northeast where I'm from a lot. Similar grasses, some similar styles. So it feels like home. It's all good with me. I like the style of golf here.
Q. How have the fans been welcoming to you?
CAMERON YOUNG: Good, yeah. They have been nice. Today's the first day of fans on Tuesday. Yeah, there are good crowds out there and already hearing a couple, Go USA's and the like so it's nice to be playing one of these at home.
Q. Chicago food, you eaten anything yet?
CAMERON YOUNG: We haven't explored really. We're kind of between the course and the hotel so far. We'll find something.
Q. You've talked a lot about your Christian faith and how important that is to you. You've been saying that you went to mass before the Sunday of the Masters. There's a lot of guys in this room too who is have spoken about that. Is that something you feel has helped bring this team together this week?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say it's a huge topic, but I think just when you get a group of people that generally believe in the same underlying principles you're going to have some level of, you know, connection or bond with them just generally. Yeah, I wouldn't say it's a huge topic of conversation, but obviously Scottie, Sam, I feel like they're pretty open about it. Yeah, it's just a part of my life. I don't feel like I go out of my way to talk about it, but yeah it's just a part of what we do in my life.
Q. Yeah, so and often you hear people say, you try to lean on your faith during the tough times, but how hard actually is that when you're just not playing well you're having a bad day on the course, are you able to compartmentalize that?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I try to. I mean, I feel that in some sense golf is the, I don't know, I don't want to say the least important thing because obviously it's how I make my living. But there comes a point wherefore the most part you're playing to play as well as you can. And when you don't play well it's just not the end of the world. I don't know how else to put it. So I feel that I'm incredibly fortunate if bad golf is what I feel like I need to lean on my fate for, if that makes sense. Like that's not where it's going to come into play. My children are healthy, my family's healthy, that's where things are hard. Golf is not hard in that sense.
Q. It's so interesting you say that because like you said you wouldn't be here today if you weren't an amazing golfer who practiced all the time, who worked really hard, like but it's not the most important thing, like how do you balance that?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, it's something I love to do, something I really deeply care about how I perform, and so that's kind of what drives me to do it. That's what drives me to do the practice, put in all the work. Just from a competitive standpoint I really care about doing well. So, yes, it's not the most important thing in the world, there's things far more important, but at the same time it's my job and it's something that I've dedicated a large portion of my life to. So while it's not the last thing in the world to care about, it's certainly important to me and I truly care deeply about how I perform, so that's kind of what pushes me forward.
Q. As it relates to the team stuff, have you ever found yourself, especially early days feeling like you had to, not perform for your partner, but you don't want to let 'em down?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, for sure. I think that's only natural. I mean even today I hit it in the woods twice and left Chris over there kind of in a tough spot. So, yeah, you're always trying to do well for, obviously for yourself, but for the rest of your team as well.
Q. On foursomes, you never played it as a kid, I got to think.
CAMERON YOUNG: Maybe a Junior Ryder Cup.
Q. That doesn't count. I mean just at home. How come no one plays foursomes? It's quicker, it's more fun.
CAMERON YOUNG: You don't have to hit all the shots? I don't know.
Q. Why?
CAMERON YOUNG: You don't have to hit all the shots. I don't know. I mean, we almost never play it now. We play it once a year.
Q. Are you any good at it?
CAMERON YOUNG: Foursomes? I mean, I'm good at golf a lot of the time, so I guess.
Q. Do you enjoy it at all?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah.
Q. At least in the team thing.
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I mean, I think it's fun. Everybody on this team is just so good. Like, you're going to tell me I'm not happy watching any one of these guys hit a tough tee shot for me? I'll take that little break any day.
Q. Until they put it in the woods like you did with Chris.
CAMERON YOUNG: Well, yeah.
Q. From an emotions standpoint, do you get a sense that this stuff brings more out of you and everyone else than it normally does and why is that is it the noise or?
CAMERON YOUNG: It's hard to say. You do see more strange things happen in the team events. Like strangely good and overall strange. Like, you see guys kind of perform outside of what you would say is like a normal level. I think it's just heightened focus, heightened emotions, and that can go both ways.
Q. Did you watch the last one?
CAMERON YOUNG: No.
Q. In Montreal, you didn't watch any?
CAMERON YOUNG: No. I've seen clips of it.
Q. Did you see clips of Scottie giving it to Tom Kim?
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah, I mean, I heard about all that stuff. But did I sit down and watch it? No, I was --
Q. You've seen that clip though.
CAMERON YOUNG: Of? I know of many instances, so I don't know which clip you're talking about.
Q. The one where he turned and said, What was that? Just screamed top of the lungs after he poured one in after Tom had made a putt. Did you ever see that clip?
CAMERON YOUNG: Probably, but I don't know.
Q. Didn't register. Okay. Could you describe the team atmosphere in one word?
CAMERON YOUNG: One word? I don't know, I would say maybe -- it's really hard to say in one word. It's a really easy team to be on, frankly. Like, I don't know if easy is the word you're looking for. But I think for anyone of us it's just a really comfortable group. Like there's not a whole lot of -- I don't know shall everybody on the team is like a pretty good guy. Pretty kind to each other. Everybody is really good at golf. It's like there's no stress I think from the team perspective. You could pretty much put any one of us with any of the other guys and go play and it would be no problem.
Q. Who is your favorite swing on the team?
CAMERON YOUNG: Probably Xander.
Q. Any reason?
CAMERON YOUNG: I just like the way he hits it.
Q. Earlier Brandt said that he would have liked Scottie to just be Scottie this week. Who is Scottie to you?
CAMERON YOUNG: He's the best player in the world. He's been that way for a few years now. When he's himself, man, it's impressive. He's really, really good. Yeah, I love watching him play well. Especially one of these weeks when he's on my team, I'm not trying to beat him. Because when he's good he's awfully hard to beat.
Q. I have some old photos of your teammates. Wanting to see if you could guess who these guys are.
CAMERON YOUNG: Wyndham? No idea.
Q. Jackson.
CAMERON YOUNG: Okay. I should have known, that's not that long ago for him.
Q. There's a few more.
CAMERON YOUNG: Xander?
Q. Yeah.
CAMERON YOUNG: Yeah. Something about that one I can tell.
Q. I think it's the eyes.
CAMERON YOUNG: Who is that? I'm not good at this.
Q. Is it the Pinehurst hat one?
CAMERON YOUNG: That one (indicating.)
Q. You should be able to get that one?
CAMERON YOUNG: I feel like I should, but I'm not that -- who is that?
Q. You look up to him.
CAMERON YOUNG: What did you say?
Q. I said you look up to him.
CAMERON YOUNG: Oh, yeah? Is that Scottie?
Q. Yeah.
CAMERON YOUNG: I don't know why, that doesn't look like Scottie to me. No idea. Pinehurst hat?
Q. Patrick.
CAMERON YOUNG: Patrick. Yeah, I guess. Justin. I got that one.
Q. One more.
CAMERON YOUNG: Collin?
Q. Yeah.
CAMERON YOUNG: I got that one. All right. I was like 2-5.
Q. SEC or Big-Ten football?
CAMERON YOUNG: I haven't watched a football game in 10 years, no idea.
Q. Starbucks or Dunkin?
CAMERON YOUNG: Starbucks.
Q. NBA or NHL playoffs?
CAMERON YOUNG: NHL.
Q. NIL in college sports, good or bad?
CAMERON YOUNG: It hasn't been good for Wake Forest.
Q. LeBron or Jordan?
CAMERON YOUNG: Man, Jordan.
Q. Would you rather watch the Stanley Cup or the World Series?
CAMERON YOUNG: World Series.
Q. Early morning round or late afternoon?
CAMERON YOUNG: Early.
Q. Baseball pitch clock, game changer or gimmicks?
CAMERON YOUNG: Game changer.
Q. Spotify or Apple Music?
CAMERON YOUNG: Apple Music.
Q. The Presidents Cup group chat muted or always active?
CAMERON YOUNG: It's active, for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports