By TERRY LYONS, Editor of PGA Tour Brunch & Digital Sports Desk
CROMWELL (Conn) – After prepping at Hamden Hall Day School and playing the very best golf courses at every chance, Ben James decided to attend the University of Virginia to play golf. James grew up in Milford, Connecticut, developing his game at Great River Golf Club, where his grandfather, Donald James Sr., worked part-time after retirement and his father, Donald James Jr., played in his youth.
They might’ve dreamt of great things to come for Ben, but little did they know just how far those dreams would take their grandson/son.
James played four seasons at Virginia (2022-26), where he earned seven individual victories, tying Ben Kohles‘ school record for career wins and one of his victories included the 2024 Valero Texas Collegiate, which earned him an exemption for the 2025 Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR.
One outing and one experience after another, led James to the next level.
James became only the fifth collegiate golfer in history to earn four All-America First Team honors, following Gary Hallberg (1977-80 at Wake Forest University), Phil Mickelson (1989-92 at Arizona State University), David Duval (1990-93 at Georgia Tech), and Bryce Molder (1998-2001 at Georgia Tech).
James earned his PGA TOUR membership as the No. 1 player from the 2026 PGA TOUR University Ranking after those four amazing seasons four seasons in Charlottesville. Now, there’s no turning back.
Actually, this wonderful tournament at the TPC River Highlands, just south of Hartford, was James’ first rodeo. He made his PGA TOUR debut as a sponsor exemption at the 2022 Travelers Championship, playing in a field which also featured Chris Gotterup, Cole Hammer, and Michael Thorbjornsen as a few other sponsor exemptions. James was keeping good company, all along.
When James teed-off at the Travelers Championship on Thursday, he had $204,170 in winnings to his name and a 4-for-11 record in making the cut at his events on Tour. Home course advantage would help him get a good – but not great – start.
James’ bogey-free (64) on Friday placed him in a tie for 14th place amongst a crowded and star-studded leaderboard, but for a PGA Tour signature event, he’s in good shape for this weekend.
Maybe today, on Sunday, the hometown crowds from Milford to Cromwell, Connecticut will spur-on their proud Hamden Hall and Virginia Cavalier product to his best finish as a professional at the ripe age of 23..
HERE NOW, THE NOTES: When the FIFA World Cup draw and then full schedule was announced long ago, every soccer fan in New England circled the Friday afternoon, June 26 match featuring Norway and France. Norway boasts the best player in the world in Erling Haaland and he was named as a substitute only hours before gametime. Both France and Norway had secured placed in the Knockout Round so the national team coaches decided to sit their best players for rest or to protect them from possible yellow card or red card suspensions. The ultimate in load management. … Fans had plunked down $2,500 per seat. Even at game time, after the announcement of load management, “get-in” upper deck seats were over $1,000.
It looks like boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk watched Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” tv documentary. Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion, announced that he is vacating his WBA, IBF and WBC heavyweight titles, but he is not retiring. In a social media post, he wrote that he has one “Last Dance” before he bags it. The boxer is 39 years old and defeated a kick boxer in his last match (25-0, 16 KOs).
TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Kenny Klein was an accomplished and respected member of the College Sports Information community, mostly for his four+ decades at the University of Louisville and recently for his second-career pitch-in to help former Louisville basketball coach, now head coach of St. John’s, being Rick Pitino. Klein answered Pitino’s call for added help in Queens and it was answered. WWYI did not know Klein, sadly never met him, but have been reading column after column of love and pride for the man who was the ultimate “behind the scenes” guy. Klein passed away at the young age of 66, suddenly gone after having a terrible incident while dining at a Louisville restaurant. May God Bless him and may we all offer condolences to his dear friends (he has so many) and family. … To get some real insight from someone who knew him very well for most of the 40+ years via a column by Louisville’s Eric Crawford, click HERE.
PINK: Yes, Pink did a great job hosting the TONYs, but the pink being discussed here points to the vast number of players wearing pink cleats at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s being driven by competing sportswear brands independently using color forecasting to maximize product visibility and broadcast impact. While many fans initially assumed the bright footwear was tied to a “breast cancer awareness campaign,” this summer, it’s strictly a commercial marketing ploy. Even Google dedicated its home page of June 26th to the Pretty in Pink trend.
As the preliminary round of the FIFA World Cup comes to its conclusion, the event has made major in-roads to the American-Mexican-Canadian sports societies hosting the event(s). A job well done by the organizers and venue chiefs, even as ridiculous amounts of price-gouging take place. Ticket prices are keeping many an average fan away, and thus, the sport of football/Futbol/Soccer sees little to no growth of the casual sports fan. A recent ticket offer to the France vs Norway game (little meaning as both teams had secured their place in the Knock-out round) came with a price tag of $2,500 per seat. C’mon now?
Because of that fact, the MLS is not likely to see much of a bump when it comes to the ticket-buying public attending MLS games in the second half of their split season.
WILD WEST: Take a look at the run differential numbers for the National League West (as of games completed June 25).
- Los Angeles Dodgers – (+144)
- San Diego Padres – (-5)
- Arizona Diamondbacks – (-20)
- San Francisco Giants – (-54)
- Colorado Rockies – (-90) – (and that was after they beat-up the Mets)
Only the New York Mets (-47) are in negative figures in the National League East
Only the Seattle Mariners (+4) are in positive figures in the AL West
No teams are in positive figures in the AL Central
YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: The promo reads: “Experience the raw intensity of bare-knuckle fighting up close with the ultimate Ringside Seat experience. This premium ticket puts you right in the action, complete with a selection of beer, wine, liquor, and assorted soft drinks. Skip the lines and enjoy a dedicated grab-and-go buffet featuring ballpark favorites like Fenway Franks, fresh lobster rolls, and sizzling Italian sausages. You’ll also take home an exclusive miniature replica BKFC championship belt to commemorate an unforgettable night. Don’t just attend the event—own it. Secure your Ringside experience today and witness every jaw-dropping moment in style.” … Yes, the people at Fenway Sports are bringing fans “Bare-knuckle fighting.” … How could we ever live without it? … The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) will make its Massachusetts debut at Fenway Park on Saturday, August 29, marking the first time a sanctioned bare-knuckle fighting event has ever been held in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.. The matches will take place directly on the field, and will be headlined by BKFC Featherweight World Champion and #3 Ranked pound-for-pound fighter ‘King’ Kai Stewart (9-0) of Great Falls, Montana, who defends his world title for a record sixth time against New England combat sports standout Harry ‘The Hitman’ Gigliotti (6-0, 5 KOs) of Haverhill. Additional fights and details for this world class evening of bare-knuckle fighting will be announced in the coming weeks. … Bare Knuckle fighting claims to be the “fastest growing combat sport.” But, honestly, I can not think of any other “combat sport,” other than the recent hijinx of the WNBA. … Will the matches be the most physical confrontation related to the Sox since Pedro Martinez tossed coach Don Zimmer aside at Yankee Stadium? … You can make reservations for private suites. Or, you can purchase seats for either $51 or $157. I also know of a few places in Chicago or New York where you can get your ass kicked with bare knuckles for free.
IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH: If you happen to be a restaurant/bar/tavern/saloon owner, you can pay $250 (per quarter, they say) to be an official Bare Knuckles Fighting home base. You really can’t make this up! … “BKFC will provide your establishment with items to give out during the fights. These items will range from pens and lanyards to posters and T-shirts. This arrangement will also give your establishment the authority to use BKFC-approved logos in your advertising.” … Apparently, the events are broadcast regularly on BKFC TV via FUBO streaming.
OR, ALL NEW MEANING TO THE TERM “KNUCKLE-HEADS” – How about a three-day cruise from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the BKFSea? Can you imagine the mayhem? It’s January 22-25, 2027. Before you book, you better ask if they’re carrying the CFP National Championship on TV on the night of Jan. 25th. Not all ships at sea have full broadcasting rights.
SKRATCH: Reporter Alan Shipnuck did a full expose by compiling all of Phil Mickelson’s misdeeds and adding some new dirt and information. The story is best read directly – HERE. … If you’re wondering about it, this is the final paragraph: “It’s a very sad story,” says Mickelson’s former golf buddy. “He should have been Arnold Palmer. Phil had the same charisma, the same star power. People loved him everywhere he went. My take is that he came to believe his own bullshit. He thought he was bulletproof, because his whole life he had always skated on everything. But, in the end, he had too many demons. He got consumed by his own darkness.” … Keep in mind, Tiger Woods held the World No. 1 ranking for 661 weeks, and in the midst of that run, Phil Mickelson held the No. 2 slot for 270 weeks. (Between 2001-2010+). Now, both players will have scandals in the second paragraphs of their death notices.