The PGA Tour’s Player of the Year award for 2026 should be an easy call, at least according to Eamon Lynch. The Golfweek columnist, who also frequently contributes analysis and commentary on TV, declared Cameron Young as this year’s best player during a recent Golf Channel telecast.
“There are a number of candidates, but to me there are only one or two firm favorites for this award. If we just take a look at who has played really well this year, there are five people who I suppose are in the conversation,” he said. “Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Gotterup both have three PGA Tour victories. Since neither of those were majors or career- defining victories, I don’t think either of those are really, unless they make a big statement over the next couple of weeks, going to win that award.
Cameron Young plays his shot from the ninth tee during the final round of the 2026 Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club.
“Wyndham Clark, obviously he won the U.S. Open for the second time, he won the Nelson. I think he’s probably got an issue because this is ultimately a popularity vote and he’s a polarizing guy among some in the locker room.”
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Then Lynch made his case for Young.
“Cameron Young to me is the clear favorite. He won The Players Championship, he was second at The Open, he won a Signature Event at Doral,” Lynch said. “We’re being gracious in my mind by putting the world No. 1 and multiple-time Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler on this list because unless Scottie wins at least a couple of playoff events in the next couple of weeks, I don’t think he’s a Player of the Year candidate.
“Sustained statistical excellence does not win the Player of the Year award. Trophies win the Player of the Year award. These are players who know how good he is. That’s not in debate that he is the best player in golf right now; no one in their right mind is going to argue that.
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“But the Player of the Year award is not for the best statistical performance in golf. It’s for the guy who actually wins the trophies that the guys in the locker room want, and right now to me, the leading candidate for that is Cameron Young.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch says it’s an easy pick for PGA Tour Player of the Year
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