Not even his quest for a green jacket could keep devout Catholic Cameron Young from church this Sunday.
The American stormed into a share of the lead at Augusta National after shooting a seven-under 65 on Saturday to set up a final day Masters showdown alongside Rory McIlroy.
While he will be praying to the golfing god at the cathedral of pines in the final pairing on Sunday, the 28-year-old insisted that the orthodox form of worshipping will first be taking place.
On the Sunday of his Players Championship victory last month, Young was sighted attending mass with his wife Kelsey and their three children at a church across from TPC Sawgrass. He later revealed that it is a weekly ritual. No matter where they are on the road, the Young family will find a local church and they will attend mass.
And even sitting on the verge of his first major championship – what would be the biggest victory of his career – Young insisted that wouldn’t change.
Even finding himself in the final pairing, Young revealed that he would be locating the nearest Augusta church before his tee time.
Cameron Young stormed into a share of the lead at The Masters during Saturday’s third round
Despite preparing to play in the final group, Young insisted he will attend church on Sunday
‘It might, but it’s not going to stop us,’ he said when asked following Saturday’s round if competing for the green jacket could make practicing his faith a challenge this week.
‘I don’t know where we’re going to go yet, but we’ll find somewhere and take the kids. We’ll be out in full force just like usual.’
Young shares three children all under the age of five with his wife with the family traveling wherever the PGA Tour takes them.
‘The biggest thing for me is the fact that it’s great to have them out on the road with me,’ Young said. ‘I love going home and seeing everybody after whatever day it is. I’d rather go home and see them after a great day, but just having them out on the road is awesome for me.
‘I love having them out and being able to have a more normal job. Instead of saying goodbye for three weeks or four weeks. I go work a long day, but I was with them this morning, and I will see them tonight. It’s nice doing that.
‘Yeah, things definitely can be stressful at times, but they’re very, very different parts of life for me.’
Mentions of a green jacket will surely not be far from Young’s mind as he says his prayers on Sunday morning. They were certainly answered following Thursday’s opening one-over.
‘It would be an incredible day,’ Young said of the prospect of emerging victorious at Augusta on Sunday. ‘It’s something I’ve dreamed of doing for a long time.
The American star, his wife Kelsey and their three young children attend mass every week
The 28-year-old targets Masters glory after triumphing at the Players last month
‘I like the position I’m in. If you had said on Thursday at about noon that I was going to be within a couple of the lead going into Sunday, I would have taken it in a heartbeat, especially given the fact that I was watching Rory play.
‘Anytime you’re around the lead in a major, especially here, anything can happen. We saw today that a slow start and a hot start can erase a lot. It’s just kind of a matter of keeping myself in it tomorrow and doing the best I can to stay around the lead for as long as possible, and you see what happens at the end.’
The last two Players champions have gone on to win The Masters, which should present a good omen for Young. But even he knows he won’t be the favorite when he tees off alongside reigning champion McIlroy.
‘I don’t get the sense I’ll be the fan favorite,’ he admitted. ‘But yeah, I feel like the support, some fans that cheer for me have gotten louder over the last year. It will still be lopsided, I think. Rory’s kind of a world favorite in the golf world.’
