RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 10, 2026

Ben James

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course)

Quick Quotes

Q. You recently received your TOUR card through PGA TOUR University. What was that final round like there at the NCAA's and what did that feel like to finally make it official and have it done?

BEN JAMES: Yeah, it was amazing. It was a long year. I played, I had a great year of the team played great, I played great. It's a hard week, the NCAA's is a really difficult golf course, super challenging. Just very happy how I handled it. Obviously there was a lot going on, a lot of kind of noise around PGA TOUR U and everything and just really happy how -- we had two other guys on PGA TOUR U just on our team, just really happy how we all kind of hadn't handled it as a group and we did the best we can that week.

Q. Did you feel much pressure holding the No. 1 spot all year or did you not think about that you just went out and played?

BEN JAMES: Yeah, you could say as much as you want you didn't think about it, but it's always on your mind a little bit. But just kind of, you know, when I was out there, just did the best I can. It's pretty simple to say, but that's all you can do in life and out here. So that's what I try to focus on and just worry about myself as much as possible and just see where everything kind of fell at the end.

Q. What will you miss most about college golf?

BEN JAMES: Yeah, definitely my teammates and coaches. I'm probably texting my college golf coach more this week than I ever have before. I miss him and miss those guys already. Just, they played a huge role in my success and me getting better as a player and person, and just can't thank my teammates and coaches enough.

Q. What's the best part of your game? For people that don't know you, if they went out you and watched you tomorrow, what is the best part of your game and what do you think your strength is?

BEN JAMES: I would say iron play is a strength of mine. Been working super hard on my putting lately, and I think I'm very happy to kind of see where that has come at this point. Very solid driver of the ball, I would say. Those three things.

Q. About the U.S. Open qualifying yesterday, how tough was that and what's that like to, how does that feel, you graduate from college, you qualify for the U.S. Open again, and you're starting your PGA TOUR? How much of a grind was that, what's your last 24 hours been like?

BEN JAMES: Yeah, it's a crazy day, a lot of stuff happens. I played great again. The goal of that day is just to be in the mix as long as possible. That's what make it's fun. That's why it's a fun day, because you have the U.S. Open on the line and you're right in the heat of it. And I was able to do that. The course got really hard, got firm and fast, and I was able to hold on until the end, and I got in and it's a great day. I was on the phone with my mom and she said, I know stuff is happening fast, but just try to really soak it in as best as you can, and that's what I've been trying to do.

Q. What are you most looking forward to over the next, for this start and the coming weeks, what are you most excited for about TOUR golf and professional golf, now that you're actually a professional?

BEN JAMES: Just trying to see where my game stacks up, and meet some new friends. Everyone has been super nice to me out here. They know I'm the new kid, and they have all been super welcoming, and I really appreciate that. I would say just the friends and just learning about myself more and just kind of the everything about professional golf.