Rookie Ben James Enters Bermuda Championship as Favorite After Historic Start

The PGA Tour schedule has reached that juncture where the sport’s biggest stars are enjoying a well-earned hiatus, creating a prime opening for emerging talent.

Few have seized that opportunity quite like Ben James. The 23-year-old rookie has logged four top-five finishes in his first ten professional starts, including a runner-up result in Asheville last month and a third-place showing at the Wyndham Championship in August.

His eleventh career event, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship beginning Thursday, finds him installed as the betting favorite—a remarkable ascent for a player who was not an official Tour member a mere five months ago.

James secured his PGA Tour card on June 1 after concluding his collegiate career at the University of Virginia as the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University rankings, earning direct access to the game’s highest level. His professional debut at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills yielded an opening 69 and a closing 67, resulting in a tie for 23rd. He followed with a tie for fourth at the Corales Puntacana Championship in July before experiencing his lone missed cut of the season at the 3M Open.

Since that Minnesota setback, James has been virtually automatic, posting rounds of 68 or better in 14 of 16 attempts. That stretch includes a tie for fifth at the Bank of Utah Championship earlier this month, where he carded 65-66-64-67 to finish 22-under par. Despite the strong showing, James expressed frustration with his putting, a mindset that underscores his exacting standards.

“It was something where I was really teetering throughout the day with frustration and emotion,” James said following his final round in Utah. “I was definitely really happy how I handled myself not having my best stuff today and keeping it a nice round of golf.”

That competitive fire, combined with a 9-for-10 made-cut record and nearly $1.9 million in early earnings, explains why oddsmakers favor him at Port Royal Golf Course. Defending champion Adam Schenk, who owns just the one career victory, missed the cut in Utah. The field also features Corey Conners—the highest-ranked entrant at No. 61—along with Chris Kirk, Mackenzie Hughes, and Emiliano Grillo.

With the usual headline names absent, the stage is set for James to further validate his status as the Tour’s next breakout star.

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