SHRINERS CHILDREN'S OPEN

October 17, 2024

Ben Silverman

TPC Summerlin

Quick Quotes

Q. Ben, you're off to a good start, a great start. 7-under, bogey-free. Just talk about that round a little bit for us.

BEN SILVERMAN: I was extremely happy with it. I was in a good mood all day. Right from the beginning warming up in the stars and the full moon, just felt like it was a special morning. You know, being first off out here means you're in a good category, getting fresh greens, nice conditions.

I've been going to bed early leading up to my tee time today knowing I was going to be waking up at 4:30 in the morning. Just in a good mood all day, ready to go.

Q. What did you do best out there, do you feel?

BEN SILVERMAN: I hit the shots that I knew I could hit. I didn't try to do anything silly. I was smart strategically off the tee. Made a lot of good putts. Couple short ones I needed for par I made, and rolled in a couple long ones for birdie and had some nice momentum out there.

Q. Had a lot of good, solid, consistent finishes to close out the season. Now you're off to a great start in the fall with a Top 5 at Procore Championship and now getting yourself in contention here. What's your plan for the FedEx fall and the position you're in?

BEN SILVERMAN: My goal is to win, but I want to be fresh. I love training at home, getting time with my family, seeing my trainer, practicing at my home course. I want to be ready to go.

I don't enjoy doing four, five weeks in a row. I feel like my game is at a standstill at that point. So I am playing this week and next week. That's my plan. If I win, which is what I'm trying to do, then I might chase that 51 to 60 and play another one.

But I'm really focused on the long-term goal of trying to win and get my name with the top guys on this TOUR and in the world really.

Q. You walked into this interview and said, that's why I'm here, because Taylor Pendrith hasn't finished yet. Just comment on your fellow countryman with a couple holes to go. Looks like he's double digits.

BEN SILVERMAN: Yeah, Pendy has been playing incredible all season long and he put up a good performance in the Presidents Cup. I think he is top 40 or 50 in the world now. I'm trying to chase down the top Canadians, the top internationals. I want to become one the top guys on the Presidents Cup team in the next couple years, so that's my focus.

Q. Speaking the Presidents Cup and Canada, how much did you pay attention to that? How much did you watch?

BEN SILVERMAN: I watched every day pretty much. I was into it. I was rooting for them. I mean, the comeback on Friday was incredible. The Ryder Cup has such a rich tradition of the Europeans versus the Americans, and I would love to see the internationals take that type of attitude for the Presidents Cup two years in advance.

Like I want to start hearing guys talking about it in the locker room so all the internationals are focused on playing great out here for themselves, but for the bigger goal of kicking ass in the Presidents Cup two years from now and making that as big as the Ryder Cup.

Being from Canada I can't be part the Ryder Cup. I want the Presidents Cup to be like that. So I'm already thinking about that now.

Q. So couple years ago you played in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am with Aaron Rodgers. You guys ended up taking the pro-am title that week. I don't know if you follow the NFL at all. But Aaron Rodgers is teaming up with another old battery mate of his, Davante Adams. When they played in Green Bay, they had over 600 pass completions, 75,100 yards. A Rod won two MVPs. So thinking about all that, when all is said and done you guys obviously won the Pebble Beach pro-am. Who do you think will be the better battery mate for Aaron?

BEN SILVERMAN: Definitely Davante because I can't catch a football. We had a great time that week. I had been following that a little bit. My wife and I watched the Receiver series on Netflix and I'm a little shocked to see that trade went through. Seemed like maybe it was in the works. They had got together when the Raiders played the Jets and Aaron was injured last year. I'm sure they were talking about it.

Maybe it will spark something for them. Maybe they can make a push. I think they're 2-4 right now so got some work to do.

Q. Clearly been following his career. Do you keep in touch?

BEN SILVERMAN: Here and there. He's busy in football season. He doesn't talk much until football is over. He's in his element and we'll talk when football is done.

Q. Did you learn anything from those two days playing with Aaron, his mindset competitively?

BEN SILVERMAN: Yeah, I think it was more the comfort he had in being surrounded by everybody in the spotlight that he is, with the confidence he had, and took something from that.