Cameron Young reflects on brutal Open finish: "If I'm anybody but me..."

Cameron Young says he's proud of his efforts at the The Open despite enduring another heart-breaking near miss at a major.

The American, 29, looked as though he was going to be in a playoff at worst at Royal Birkdale two weeks ago.

Young posted the clubhouse target of 9-under and it looked increasingly likely he was going to get his hands on the Claret Jug as the conditions worsened for the afternoon wave. 

But New Zealand's Ryan Fox produced an otherworldly finish - including only the third birdie of the day at the 18th - to snatch the championship by one stroke. 

In a bizarre coincidence, the two ended up on the same flight home and were involved in an awkward moment as the 39-year-old held up boarding by storing his new hardware in the overhead locker. 

Young told reporters ahead of the Rocket Classic that it was a good week regardless.

"Saturday really was what ended up being the difference," he said. 

"I played well and just wasn't able to get the ball in the hole. 

"I hit a lot of really good shots to 25, 30 feet, which you just don't make many of those and that's kind of what happened on Saturday."

He added: "I played great on Sunday. I was proud of the fact that I kept myself in it and gave myself a chance even though I was battling some stuff on Saturday. 

"Yeah, a great week. I mean, I would have loved to have put together four major finishes. I had a real chance to win two, so I feel like left something to be desired. 

"But at the same time I put myself in position a couple times and that's the main thing you can ask for. If you're in position, anything can happen."

Young has now finished runner-up at The Open twice. 

He finished one stroke behind Cameron Smith at the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews in 2022. 

But he was quick to praise the new champion golfer of the year. 

"Ryan Fox played a great last five holes, six holes," he said. 

"It was looking pretty good there for a minute and he made some putts down the stretch. That's kind of how it goes. 

"But I was in a position where the overwhelming likelihood on the last hole is I was going to be in a playoff at worst, and he hit three amazing shots so that kind of is what it is. 

"If I'm anybody but me, that's a lot of fun to watch. I was obviously hoping for a different outcome. Not rooting against the guy, but yeah, I was close and I was happy to put myself there."