Ben James Leads 2026 RBC Canadian Open After 63, Tom Kim Rbc Canadian Open
Ben James leads the tom kim rbc canadian open by one shot after firing a second-round 63 at TPC Toronto and reaching 10 under par through 36 holes. The pro debutant turned a crowded leaderboard into a Saturday chase, with 17 players still within three shots of the lead.
Ben James At TPC Toronto
James was making his first professional start after earning his Tour card by finishing first in the PGA Tour University Ranking, and he also qualified for his third U.S. Open on Monday of that week. He said, "I wasn’t really thinking about really results at all this week," and added, "Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls."
That calm approach matched the scorecard. His 63 gave him control of the tournament at the halfway point, but the margin stayed thin with Sam Burns at 9 under par, Brooks Koepka at 8 under par and Sahith Theegala at 7 under par.
Sam Burns In The Featured Pairing
James and Burns were scheduled to tee off at 1:45 p.m. ET in Saturday's third round. James framed the week as a test of where his game stands, saying, "Just seeing where my game stacks up."
The leader also kept the focus on his own build, saying, "Obviously I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes," and, "Because this is just the baseline, it’s my first professional debut." That leaves the tournament open to pressure from the pack, not just the players nearest the top.
Saturday Coverage At RBC Canadian Open
The third round was scheduled for Saturday, with early streaming coverage on PGA Tour Live on + beginning at 7:45 a.m. ET. Golf Channel was set for 1-3 p.m. ET coverage, followed by CBS from 3-6 p.m. ET.
James said, "Obviously had a great two days, but just trying to get better." That is the spot he now occupies: leader by one, still with three rounds to defend it, and still with Burns, Koepka and the rest of a 17-player pack close enough to force a move before the weekend ends.
