Portugal Colonial - Young says rise up rankings gives him belief for Masters

Young heads into the Masters at a career-high number three after his win at The Players Championship last month for his second PGA Tour triumph. The first came last August in Greensboro.

With two top-10 Masters showings in the past three years and second place at the 2022 British Open, Young feels comfortable amongst the sport's elite as he chases a first major title.

"I have no idea what the stats would say, but I feel like I've played really consistent golf over the course of almost the last year really," Young said.

"It has been a long road to get to number three. I spent a lot of time between 15 and 20 over the course of the last few years and then had a big dip (at) the beginning of last year.

"So it has really been kind of a long march back up and to finally be, for the first time in my career, a top-10 player in the world is pretty cool -- never mind top-five.

"It's where I want to be. I feel like the golf I've played over the last year has really been good proof of that."

Breakthrough victories after seven seasons as a professional have provided a payoff for years of work, Young said.

"It's certainly a confidence boost. It's more validation that, when I play well, I can put myself in those situations," Young said.

"I feel like I've been in plenty of them over the last four or five years and it's nice over the last eight months or so to have two of them shake out my way."

His improved form has brought greater attention from crowds.

"I definitely feel that there's some more fan support out there," he added.

G.M.Castelo--PC