Q&A: What’s It Like Playing on the PGA Tour While Going to School? This Hoo Knows

April 10, 2025
Portrait of Ben James on a golf course

UVA’s Ben James, among the best college golfers in the nation, is trending toward a long professional career. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

Though he’s becoming a regular to the scene, Ben James is still occasionally awestruck around PGA Tour players.

Just last week, while competing in the Valero Texas Open, the third-year University of Virginia student-athlete took a moment to soak in his surroundings.

“I saw Jordan Spieth cleaning out his locker,” James said of the three-time major champion. “I was like, ‘Dang, that’s cool.’”

James is now sharing spaces with golfers he once admired from afar. The world’s third-ranked amateur – and a two-time first-team All-American – has already played in seven PGA Tour events, including last week’s appearance in San Antonio, where he finished in the top 35 of the 153-player field.

The Milford, Connecticut, native appears destined to one day compete in the Masters. This year’s edition of the sport’s most revered tournament, featuring UVA alumnus Denny McCarthy, got underway Thursday in Augusta, Georgia.

Ben James at the end of his swing hitting a long drive on the golf course

James follows his drive during a practice round at Birdwood Golf Club. The junior headlines the Cavaliers, ranked ninth nationally, in their pursuit of an NCAA championship. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

But before turning professional, James will continue leading the ninth-ranked Cavaliers’ quest for an NCAA championship while pursuing an American studies degree. He’s on track to graduate in 2026.

How does he balance it all? UVA Today caught up with James to find out.

James and the Wahoos compete Monday and Tuesday at Birdwood Golf Course as hosts of the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial. Tee times on both days begin at 8:30 a.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Q. How do you juggle your loaded golf schedule with academic requirements?

A. I’m very lucky, I have the best academic coordinator (Mackenzie Nunes) and mentor (Kate DeLuca). They’re always helping me out with making sure I get my stuff done. Communication is important with everything. I’m communicating with professors, letting them know I’m going to be gone for a few days, and setting up meetings with them afterward.

It’s just part of the lifestyle, balancing everything, it just comes with it. It’s hard at the start, but you figure it out.

Excellence Here Goes Everywhere, To Be Great and Good In All We Do
Excellence Here Goes Everywhere, To Be Great and Good In All We Do

Q. How have you progressed as a student since arriving at UVA?

A. When I first got here, I looked around at the facilities and I was like, “Wow, this is so exciting. I just want to play golf all day,” and I kind of put school in the back of my mind.

But, listening to parents, coaches, teachers, I’ve learned to like school more and saw an importance of learning. Being at UVA, there’s the smartest minds in the world here. We have great professors.

It’s obviously an accomplishment to get a degree from such a prestigious university like UVA. So, I’m putting my best foot forward; there's no need to do anything less.

Q. Is there a particular course you’re enjoying this semester?

A. I'm taking this Civil War course (Civil War and Reconstruction). Professor (Caroline Janney) is awesome. Lectures are great. Very interesting class.

(Janney’s) a huge UVA sports fan, so she’s following the team. If I play well, she’ll email me, which I love.

Ben James putting a golf ball on the green

James sinks a putt during play in last week’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. The event marked the seventh PGA Tour start of James’ career. (Photo by Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)

Q. You’ve played in seven PGA Tour events now, including the 2024 U.S. Open. What have you picked up from being around the pros?

A. It’s cool to see what those guys do for practice. They’re so self-oriented in their own process. And it’s just so impressive. They’re locked in on their own physical game, mental game, which is so cool to see. And they don’t really care about results. They’re just caring about how they can perform their best for that week.

They do the simple things so well, and I think that gets overlooked sometimes. I definitely overlook the little things. Whether it’s grip, setup, ball position, the simple things that you would think they have mastered, they practice all the time.

Q. How do you plan to watch the Masters?

A. I mean, it’s the Masters, so, you know I’ll watch. And obviously we have to get ready for our event Monday, so probably during the weekend, I won’t be watching too much, but Thursday and Friday, I’m all in.

I’m super excited to follow Denny (McCarthy). He’s playing really, really good golf right now. He’s driving it well and he’s one of the best putters on PGA Tour. So, I’ll be following him and all the guys I know, and all the amateurs.

It’ll be a cool week. Hopefully, it comes down to the wire and be a good finish.

Q. Monday’s event is named after Lewis Chitengwa, an All-American golfer at UVA who died tragically early in a promising professional career. What have you gathered about his legacy?

A. He was such a good player and good guy, from what I heard. It’s so sad when you lose someone young, especially when they had a lot of things going for them. And I think it’s cool we have a tournament to remember his name, remember his legacy and remember what he did for our team and just the people he touched around our community.

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April 12, 2025

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