CALEDON, ON — In his skilled debut on the RBC Canadian Open, Ben James sank a 25-foot eagle putt to start out his spherical and by no means let up as he shot a 7-under 63 to take a one-shot lead.
James was an All-American all 4 years on the College of Virginia, the place he topped the PGA Tour school rankings and earned his card by the 2027 season.
“The whole lot got here collectively as we speak. It was simply in the future,” James stated. “My putter was nice, I hit the fairways, I put up good numbers and I used to be capable of benefit from what was a really tough day to attain.”
James completed at 10-under 130, one stroke forward of a gaggle of 5 gamers that included Sam Burns, who performed within the closing group and tied for fourth at Memorial final week.
Brooks Koepka shot a 68 and was two strokes behind Tommy Fleetwood.
James enters the weekend enjoying bogey-free at TPC Toronto’s Osprey Valley course and bogey-free over his closing 33 holes. That is his tenth PGA Tour event, together with two U.S. Opens, however his first as an expert.
“I wasn’t fascinated about the end result in any respect this week. I used to be simply frightened about getting snug, making new associates and having enjoyable, and the way every little thing was going to go,” James stated. “Clearly there are some issues to work on, however I am simply making an attempt to see how every little thing goes. That is only a baseline, as a result of that is my first professional debut. I had a fantastic two days. However I am simply making an attempt to get higher.”
Burns had a 67 and was tied with Jackson Suber (65), Haotong Li (64), Keith Mitchell (64) and Jesper Svensson (65) at 131.
Tommy Fleetwood, who Nick Taylor holed that memorable 72-foot eagle putt to lose within the Canadian Open playoffs three years in the past, shot a 65 and joined Koepka in a two-back group that included defending champion Ryan Fox (66).
Koepka stalled early within the spherical by lacking his tee shot on the thirteenth and needed to make a double bogey, and he additionally bogeyed the par-3 14th. He additionally had 4 birdies and an eagle on the again 9, beginning at No. 10, the latter on a 379-yard drive on the par-5 18th.
He was pondering extra in regards to the lateral drive.
“I need that tee ball again at No. 13,” Koepka stated. “I stood there for 10 minutes and tried to hit a low fade and acquired a excessive draw. Once I stood there and began pondering lengthy sufficient, that was form of an issue. I would wish to get that again. However apart from that, it was a stable play, no issues. The ball putting wasn’t phenomenal, nevertheless it was good.”
Eric Cole, who was tied for first and inside six locations after 18 holes, began with a triple bogey and his day by no means acquired higher. He shot a 76 and missed the reduce, which means he will not have an opportunity to play in subsequent week’s U.S. Open. Cole enters this week ranked 63rd on the earth, and the highest 60 gamers are exempt from attending Shinnecock Hills.
James certified for his third straight U.S. Open by qualifying by the 36 holes in New York. His focus now could be on golf’s fifth-oldest championship (the Canadian Open dates again to 1904) and his skilled debut.
“I’ve by no means been on this place earlier than, so I am actually trying ahead to discovering out,” James stated over the weekend. “One of many issues I needed to do was, ‘Let’s attempt to get into that final group.’ I simply wish to really feel what it seems like and see what occurs in that state of affairs. I am simply excited as a result of I am so younger. I haven’t got any expectations. I am simply going to play as greatest as I’ve the final two days.”
