American Ben James eagled the par-5 1st hole and recorded a bogey-free 7-under 63 in his first start as a professional to take a one-shot lead at the RBC Canadian Open after 36 holes, reaching 10-under 130 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Compatriot Sam Burns, last year’s runner-up, sat one having made six birdies and three bogeys for a 67.

James, 23, earned PGA Tour membership by finishing No. 1 in the 2026 PGA Tour University Ranking, becoming the fourth player to reach the Tour through that pathway after Ludvig Åberg, Michael Thorbjornsen and David Ford. The second-round 63 was a career-best 18-hole score, his first bogey-free round in 24 Tout starts, and gave him his first lead after any round at this level. In nine prior starts as an amateur, he had made just two cuts.

James, who also qualified for the US Open at Shinnecock Hills through Final Qualifying earlier in the week, said he was eager for his first weekend in contention. 

“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.

“I eagled [No.1] 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.

“I wasn’t really thinking about 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.”

Burns, Fox and a Deep Chasing Pack

Burns has not recorded a score worse than 68 in six career rounds at TPC Toronto, and he is seeking to become the second player this season to finish runner-up and then win the same event the following year, after Gary Woodland at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. Burns lost to New Zealand’s Ryan Fox on the fourth playoff hole here in 2025.

Five players were tied at 9-under alongside Burns, including American Jackson Suber, China’s Haotong Li and Sweden’s Jesper Svensson, all chasing a first PGA Tour title. Li, a four-time DP World Tour winner now in his first year of Tour membership, matched his season-low with a 6-under 64.

Defending champion Fox was tied for seventh at 8-under after steady rounds of 66 and 66, alongside American Brooks Koepka and 2025 FedExCup winner Tommy Fleetwood of England. Fox is trying to become only the second player this season to defend a title successfully after Rory McIlroy at the Masters, and only the fifth player since 1950 to defend the Canadian Open.

Record Canadian Contingent

Ten of 21 Canadian players made the cut, the most in RBC Canadian Open history since 1970. The previous record was eight, set in each of the last three years. Matthew Anderson and Taylor Pendrith led the home contingent, both tied for 13th at 7-under.

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