Cam Young Calls Penalty on Himself While Leading Cadillac Championship on Sunday

Young thought he saw his ball move forward, but still made par after getting docked a stroke.

Cameron Young received a one-stroke penalty in the final round of the Cadillac Championship. | Jeff Romance-Imagn Images

Cam Young, standing over his approach on Doral’s par-4 2nd Sunday at the Cadillac Championship, began to take the club back. Then, he suddenly stopped. 

“Can you call an official for me?” Young said. 

The world No. 4 thought he saw the ball rotate forward in his backswing. 

“I touched the ground,” cameras caught Young saying, “but I don’t see how that would make it move forward.”

Cameron Young called a one-stroke penalty on himself on No. 2 Sunday @Cadillac_Champ after causing his ball to move at address.

He still saved par and maintains a five-shot lead.

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With preferred lies in effect due to rain in the morning, Young was able to clean and place the ball back in the fairway. However, that might have caused his club to push grass forward, thus moving the ball. 

Even though Young was unsure if his ball shifted, golf is a game of honesty. And if he did indeed cause the ball to move, it’s a one-stroke penalty. 

Such was the case. 

Yet, Young hit that shot inside 15 feet and saved par, maintaining his five-stroke lead. He is attempting to be the first wire-to-wire winner of a Tour event at Doral since Andy Bean at the 1977 Doral-Eastern Open.

Having built up such a substantial lead, the New York native didn’t have to sweat losing a stroke. And if he goes on to win, which appears inevitable, perhaps that’s a reward for his honesty.