Need to Know<\/p>\n
<\/a>*:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-17ygvlf>img,.css-17ygvlf>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-17ygvlf::before{height:0px;content:””;display:block;padding-bottom:56.25%;}]]>![\"University](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780267816_76_image.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
University of Virginia men\u2019s golf team competes in worst-ball putting challenge<\/p>\n
A<\/p>\n
Change Text Size<\/p>\n
Written by Paul Hodowanic<\/p>\n
The newest PGA TOUR rookie debuts this week, looking to follow in the footsteps of Ludvig \u00c5berg, Michael Thorbjornsen<\/a> and David Ford<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fresh off a strong senior season at Virginia, Ben James<\/a> turned professional and has accepted the TOUR membership he earned by finishing No. 1 in the 2026 PGA TOUR University Ranking. James now has full status on TOUR through 2027.<\/p>\n Who is James? And what can we expect to see from him now that he\u2019s on TOUR? Here are five things to know.<\/p>\n Incredibly decorated amateur career<\/p>\n James closed his amateur career impressively, holding the top spot in the PGA TOUR University Ranking<\/a> for the entire season. He finished his college career with seven victories and 35 top-10 finishes in 46 starts.<\/p>\n James also led the Cavaliers to the program\u2019s first two ACC Championships (2025, 2026) and a national runner-up finish in 2025. James went 3-0 in match play during that run and scored his team\u2019s lone point in the national championship, defeating Oklahoma State\u2019s Preston Stout<\/a>, 3 and 2. Stout won the NCAA individual title this season.<\/p>\n James is just the fifth player in NCAA Division I history to win First Team All-America honors four times. He\u2019s the first to do it since Georgia Tech\u2019s Bryce Molder<\/a> 25 years ago.<\/p>\n James also represented the United States at the Walker Cup (2023, 2025) and Palmer Cup (2023, 2024) and never lost. His prowess pre-dates Virginia, too. He won the 2021 Junior PLAYERS Championship and completed his junior career as the nation\u2019s top-ranked junior player by the American Junior Golf Association and Golfweek.<\/p>\n *:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-17ygvlf>img,.css-17ygvlf>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-17ygvlf::before{height:0px;content:””;display:block;padding-bottom:56.25%;}]]> University of Virginia men\u2019s golf team competes in worst-ball putting challenge<\/p>\n ‘Best ball-striker I\u2019ve ever seen\u2019<\/p>\n What will James be best at when he reaches the PGA TOUR? Well, if he can translate his amateur game to the pros, his ball-striking will be his calling card.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the best ball-striker I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d said Virginia golf coach Bowen Sargent, who has coached at the university since 2004. \u201cI\u2019ve never once seen him have a bad ball-striking day, not once in four years.\u201d<\/p>\n James\u2019 teammates echoed that sentiment.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s week-in and week-out the best ball striker I\u2019ve ever played with,\u201d said Bryan Lee, who also graduated as part of the 2026 PGA TOUR University class. Lee finished 17th in the final standings and earned PGA TOUR Americas status.<\/p>\n Stats are limited in college, but his 35 top 10s in 46 starts are illustrative of his ball-striking chops. It\u2019s difficult to play that well that consistently without it.<\/p>\n Works with Rory McIlroy\u2019s mental coach<\/p>\n Renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella\u2019s rolodex of clients includes Rory McIlroy<\/a> and LeBron James. It also includes Ben James.<\/p>\n A former university staffer for more than two decades, Rotella has continued to work with the entire Virginia golf team and has drawn high praise from James. Rotella helped the Virginia team during their run to the NCAA championship match last spring.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t thank him enough for how much he\u2019s helped me and hopefully we can continue our relationship onto the next level,\u201d James told PGATOUR.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n