Cameron Young emerged as the leader in the opening round of the Cadillac Championship held at Trump International Doral, Florida. Young finished the day with an impressive score of 8-under 64, securing a one-shot lead over competitors Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley. This tournament marks the PGA Tour’s return to Doral after a decade-long hiatus.
Cameron Young’s Impressive Round
Young’s stellar performance included around 98 feet of putts made during the day. His round began strongly with an approach shot from 154 yards to just an inch from the hole on the par-4 second. He also sank three birdie putts from distances greater than 25 feet.
“I felt like I made a billion feet of putts,” Young commented, noting his luck in avoiding major mistakes.
Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley’s Performance
Jordan Spieth finished the round with a solid performance, adding an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole, despite having a few bogeys on the back nine. He credited his preparation, including notes from the pro-am, for his steady play.
“I didn’t love some of the swings I made, but I was able to put them in the right spots,” Spieth stated.
Alex Smalley also kept pace, remaining in contention just behind the leaders.
Notable Competitors
- Scottie Scheffler: The world’s No. 1 player encountered a challenging round. He initially made three birdies in his first five holes but finished at 1-under after enduring back-to-back bogeys on holes 10 and 11.
- Nick Taylor: Taylor concluded the round with a score of 66, placing him just two shots behind Young.
- Nico Echavarria: The Cognizant Classic champion opened with a round of 67, putting him three shots back from the lead.
Course Background and History
The Cadillac Championship has returned to Doral, a venue known for hosting high-caliber tournaments. The course operated under LIV Golf from 2022 to 2025, and its absence from the PGA Tour was notable until now. The last PGA Tour victor at this site was Adam Scott, who won the event in 2016.
As many players navigate Doral for the first time as professionals, Young expressed confidence in understanding the course layout, “It doesn’t try to hide anything. Learning the course wasn’t a huge deal.”
With the championship just starting, it remains to be seen how the players will adapt to the challenges ahead.
