Cameron Young entered Sunday’s final round of the Truist Championship with high hopes, aiming for his third win in just five starts. But golf—like life—can humble you in an instant. That lesson came early on the second hole at Quail Hollow, where Young’s momentum ground to a halt in the most painful way possible: a four-putt from just 14 feet.

Playing in the penultimate pairing, Young watched his birdie chance slip away, then compounded the error by missing two putts from inside three feet. The result? A double bogey that dropped him to 10 under par and turned a tight leaderboard into a steep climb. As one observer noted, “3 putts from 3 feet” is a nightmare scenario no golfer wants to relive.

But Young wasn’t alone in his early struggles. Alex Fitzpatrick, the 54-hole leader, also stumbled, doubling the par-4 third after a three-putt from 11 feet that included a missed four-footer for bogey. Suddenly, two of the tournament’s top contenders were reeling.

Yet golf rewards resilience. Young bounced back with a birdie on the third hole, climbing back to 11 under. Still, both he and Fitzpatrick found themselves three shots adrift of Kristoffer Reitan’s lead after just four holes—a reminder that in this sport, a single hole can rewrite the entire story.

For fans watching at home or on the course, it was a stark illustration of the mental and physical demands of championship golf. And for those of us who love the game, it’s a reminder that even the best players need the right gear and mindset to bounce back from a tough break.