RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 5, 2025

David Ford

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course)

Quick Quotes

Q. David, I know maybe not the finish you would have wanted, but your first day as a PGA TOUR member, kind of a childhood dream accomplished perhaps. What does it mean to be a PGA TOUR member and be out here competing as a pro?

DAVID FORD: It's such a blessing. I'm pumped to be out here and making my first start with my card. Obviously not the day I wanted, but a lot of positives. Excited to regroup and play another day on the Tour.

Q. When you were this morning getting ready, did you take a moment at all to reflect on just the context, or were you pretty much just focused on your process?

DAVID FORD: I think a little bit when I was stretching, just taking in the fact that this is my office for the next little while and enjoying that a lot and knowing there are more good days of stretching and a lot of work on the range ahead.

I was taking it in a little bit, but more than anything, just focused on the task at hand.

Q. Then the opening tee shot, what was going through your mind just as you were announced, and what were you thinking about on the tee?

DAVID FORD: I was kind of just trying to think about my process and cover a 3-wood and have it cut. Some nerves definitely, but nothing I'm not used to.

Yeah, it was a good start. I mean, right first cut, but hit a good tee ball out there. A lot of nerves though.

Q. What was your favorite moment of the day?

DAVID FORD: Made a 40-footer for birdie on 7, my 16th hole. Kind of needed it too. Didn't finish the way I wanted to after that, but that was a good momentum booster just heading to the house. That made me feel good about my putting.

Q. What did it mean to have your mom out there? I noticed she walked the whole way.

DAVID FORD: It was sweet. I think she had fun. It's nice to have a supporter, and sometimes when I'm out here and make a long putt, scream a little bit. Yeah, it was fun. I'm glad she's enjoying it out here.

Q. Could you go through your last week. I know it's been kind of a whirlwind week starting from last Thursday at orientation.

DAVID FORD: Yeah, a lot of travel. Getting back from Colonial, getting back from Chapel Hill. After Memorial Day, didn't get to practice because all the courses were closed. Wednesday I'm on a plane heading to Jacksonville. Thursday I had meetings all day in Jacksonville. Friday I'm playing my first round of golf since Colonial.

And traveling here Saturday -- traveling to Ohio Saturday, traveling here Sunday, get in Sunday evening. Then U.S. Open qualifier, 36 holes. It's been a whirlwind of a last week.

My game feels great. I think I've learned a lot from how to prepare my game. Just with the schedule being a little bit tight the last week and a half, it's been a little tough. I think I've prepared my body pretty well and excited to keep it going.

Q. Maybe next week you can wind down a little bit?

DAVID FORD: Yeah, maybe. I don't -- I think there's a spot in the U.S. Open for the winner here. So my intention is to keep playing good golf and see if I can maybe not have an off week the next few weeks.

Yeah, we'll just take it as it comes and prep for tomorrow.

Q. Can you say Sunday what you did, accepting the award that you did?

DAVID FORD: Yeah, it was the Nicklaus Award, given to the best collegiate golfer from each division, I guess. Mr. Nicklaus was there. It was a huge honor. I was thrilled to win this year. I know it was pretty tight with some other great players.

Yeah, it was a huge honor, and it was nice being around the guys at Memorial and learning from them. I got to talk to Ben Griffin a little bit, which was nice. Saw him play good. Yeah, as tight as the travel was, it was a blessing to win the Nicklaus.

Q. Do you know Ben pretty well?

DAVID FORD: I do, yeah.

Q. What's impressed you, I guess, about his run? He's had an awesome couple months. What is it about him that makes him great?

DAVID FORD: I think his ability to get better. He's gotten better every year since he's been on the Tour. He'll do what it takes to get better in certain areas. I know he's been in the gym a lot and gaining a lot of speed recently. I think a little while ago he was looking at strokes gained numbers and just adjusting accordingly for what his practice needed to be to move up on those charts.

So I think his ability to get better and have a great attitude about the wins and the losses has been really encouraging and something to learn from for me.

Q. Even though you have your own process and game plan, being out here on Tour, maybe you can pick things from people, pick guys' brains, how people approach things. Is that a cool opportunity at this level as a pro to explore different ways to get better?

DAVID FORD: Definitely. I'm here to learn. I've been learning a lot the last few weeks. Just a bunch of different ways to learn. Ben is a great guy to learn from.

Q. Lastly, kind of looking forward to the rest of the season. What are you looking forward to about this journey knowing that you don't need to press too hard this year. Obviously you want to get to the TOUR Championship and everything, but you have a card through 2025 and can embark on this journey without, I guess, too much pressure?

DAVID FORD: Yeah, I want to win. I didn't play to lose. I want to get better every week so that I can win. I think the challenge is definitely there, playing against the best players in the world. Yeah, I really want to see how good I can get and keep learning.

Ultimately, the goal is to win. Whenever that comes, I'm ready for it.