SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

April 19, 2026

Ben Crane

Press Conference

The Concession Golf Club

THE MODERATOR: We're joined now by Ben Crane here at the 2026 Senior PGA Championship. What are your thoughts on the week and your performance here?

BEN CRANE: I mean, I've always said -- people always say, What's your favorite golf tournament in the world? PGA Championship. Why is it your favorite tournament? Because great course, great field, setup is fair.

You know, anyway, and just this was a great test of golf. I mean, bad shots were penalized, good shots were rewarded. You had to play conservatively, aggressively.

So at the end of the day, we definitely got our champion that we wanted, the guy who was playing the best golf. Very impressive day for Stewart, one of my closest friends. Couldn't be more thankful to see him come out on it.

I played great golf, so I don't mind getting beat, you know, when it's that good of golf.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How do you feel about your first major with the seniors?

BEN CRANE: Man, it couldn't have been more rewarding, encouraging, fun. Just, like, man, I don't get any more excited than that. Things were going the right direction. Had a solid day today.

I didn't know Stewart was that far ahead. I thought I was in it, and then I signed my score card and I'm, like, oh, I got beat my by a mile. But we're in second, so that was good.

Q. As well as you played today are maybe you didn't notice because you were focusing on your own game, but how good did Stewart play? How hard was it going to be to catch him?

BEN CRANE: I shot 4-under. I was 5-under going into the last hole. So I was 5-under, and he beat me by four. So that's, like, elite golf, yeah. 9-under on this golf course, that's doing everything well. Like, making putts, flush iron shots, correctly missing the penal areas around the green. 9-under is special around here, yeah. You'll probably never see it again.

Q. I know it's early in your rookie season, but how does this kind of set you up for this next stretch of golf?

BEN CRANE: Man, honestly, I can't tell you how much confidence it gives me that my game is trending. Played four or five, six Korn Ferries the last couple of years to stay fresh, because I wasn't getting very many tour events, and it takes a while to get yourself competitively ready.

I talked to Henrik Stenson. I said, How did you play? We were through two or three days. He said, I'm not tournament-ready. I'm, like, wow, it really is a thing to be tournament-ready.

Very excited. Obviously it will help me with points and all that, but I feel like, more importantly, it feels like, okay, my good enough is going to be good enough when I put it all together. Stewart was really impressive, though.