RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 12, 2026

Ben James

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course)

Quick Quotes

Q. Making your pro debut this week and a second round 63. How are you feeling heading into the weekend?

BEN JAMES: Yeah, I feel great. It was a great day. It all kind of came together today, it was just one of those days, the putter was good, hitting fairways, had good numbers, and was able to capitalize on a pretty tricky scoring day.

Q. Started the day with an eagle on No. 1. Talk me through that hole.

BEN JAMES: Yeah, I eagled it the day before. I think that hole just likes me. I hope it keeps liking me. I just striped the first tee shot, hit a nice hybrid in there, and rolled in a 25-footer. I knew the greens were going to be a little slow and I was just happy I got it there and perfect speed and we were off and running from there.

Q. Windy morning, first time kind of seeing this course, what are you seeing from TPC Toronto?

BEN JAMES: Yeah, it's tough. You really have to trust the lines off the tee. A lot of dogleg lefts, but the fairway's kind of sloping like this (indicating) so it's kind of hard to drive the ball. Just really trusting my lines off the tee and really happy how I committed to each golf shot today.

Q. Your grouping the last two days, Neal Shipley, Jackson Suber. Jackson played well. How nice is it to have younger guys playing alongside you these first two rounds?

BEN JAMES: It was great. We were laughing all the time. I had an amazing time out there. They were so welcoming, everyone's been so welcoming. It's definitely an adjustment. Jackson and I were definitely feeding off each other and rooting for each other out there.

Q. First tournament as a pro, just earned your TOUR card. Is there any way, in the back of your head, you thought you might be in the lead after 36 holes?

BEN JAMES: I didn't even -- yeah, probably not. I wasn't really thinking about really results at all this week. Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls. Just seeing where my game stacks up. Obviously I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes. Because this is just the baseline, it's my first professional debut. Obviously had a great two days, but just trying to get better.

Q. So now you've got some time to rest. Thinking ahead to the rest of the weekend, or to the weekend, what's kind of going through your mind? Are you going to have trouble sleeping tonight or whatever?

BEN JAMES: I got no clue because I've never been in this position, so I'm very excited to find out. One thing I wanted to do I was, like, let's try and get in that last group. I just want to feel what that feels and kind of just see what happens out there in that situation. Being so young, I'm just excited. I have no expectations. I'm going to play the best I can like I did the last two days.