PGA Tour returns to Doral as Cameron Young claims first-round lead at 2026 Cadillac Championship
Cameron Young's bogey-free 64 sets the tone for the tournament, though the course's reputation for difficulty remains intact despite favourable conditions.
The 2026 Cadillac Championship has commenced at Trump National Doral in Miami, marking the PGA Tour's return to the venue known as the Blue Monster. Despite the course's historical reputation for difficulty, the opening round was characterised by a surprising number of low scores. Light winds until the late stages of the round, combined with receptive greens, created conditions that allowed for an under-par scoring average across the field.
Cameron Young emerged as the leader after carding an 8-under 64, a bogey-free round that featured eight birdies. His performance was particularly notable given that he did not drive to his usual standards, hitting only half of his fairways and battling a violent left miss at times. Nevertheless, Young's superb wedge play, particularly on holes 2, 5, and 16, allowed him to capitalise on opportunities around the greens to secure the first-round lead.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler trailed the leader by one stroke with a 3-under 71. The world's top-ranked player shared a tee time with Young on Thursday but struggled to match the latter's form, eventually falling seven strokes behind the eventual leader. Scheffler played the par 5s in one over and left several chances out there, a performance that contrasts with his usual dominance and suggests a potential vulnerability on this specific layout.
Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley finished tied for second at 7-under, having taken advantage of the more friendly conditions presented by the Blue Monster. Spieth, who recorded a 65 including a chip-in eagle on the par-5 8th hole, credited his improved performance partly to equipment changes. He switched to a Pro V1-X left dash ball and new woods ahead of the tournament, noting that the adjustments helped increase spin rates and control.
The round also highlighted the struggles of several major champions who failed to find their rhythm. Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, and Jason Day all finished over par. Rose, in particular, faced significant difficulties, recording his worst ball-striking and worst tee-to-green round of the year. He lost strokes on 13 of his 18 approach shots and finished the day with multiple penalties and double bogeys.
At the other end of the leaderboard, Genesis Invitational winner Jacob Bridgeman recorded a 79, finishing at the bottom of the standings. While the low scoring average suggests the course is currently playing more forgiving than feared, the tournament remains a test of consistency over the coming three weeks. Young, who noted he expects to have both good and bad days during the event, now enters Friday's second round with a one-stroke advantage over the chasing pack.
