Ryan Gerard called his 2026 season ‘disappointing’ despite eight top-10s and over $10 million in earnings, while Ben James continues to impress in Mexico

Ryan Gerard opened up on his "disappointing" season after the world No. 23 earned eight top-10s in the 2026 season and was left off the Presidents Cup team.

Following his third-place finish at the Tour Championship, the 27-year-old caught a red-eye plane to play DP World Tour next week. He wanted to be prepared for the Presidents Cup team in case captain Brandt Snedeker called upon him.

He and J.J. Spaun didn’t get the call to be a part of the history-making Presidents Cup team after Gerard highlighted his love for the game at the Tour Championship.

Playing at the World Wide Technology Championship as the highest-ranked in the field, Gerard reflected on his season after he failed to earn a title but made 23 of 27 cuts and made $10,306,498.

He advanced to the FedExCup playoffs for the second consecutive year and made his debut at the Tour Championship this season.

“Just really a solid year of golf,” said Gerard. “A little disappointing, I just haven't really closed out a tournament to get a win so that's kind of the one thing left to do this year. Just going to go out there, play some good golf, see how it stacks up at the end of the week.”

Despite the season, Gerard emphasized his love for the game at the Tour Championship.

“Like full transparency, if I get a Presidents Cup spot, I'd love to kind of roll into there being a little bit more prepared. I like to play a lot of golf,” said Gerard. “And if I don't, I'll probably just stay over there and play Wentworth and the France Open after that.”

Competing at the World Wide Technology Championship, Gerard sits in second place behind 23-year-old Ben James, who earned his PGA Tour card for the 2027 season.

The PGA Tour newcomer joined the Los Angeles Golf Club TGL roster for the 2026 season. He is already creating a buzz on the tour after climbing to the top of the leaderboard early in the weekend in Mexico and heads into the final round in first place.

He posted an eight-under 64 on Friday in Mexico to hold a one-stroke lead, which was highlighted by five consecutive birdies around the turn and a final birdie setup.

He secured his PGA Tour card for next year by finishing as the top player in the PGA Tour University ranking. Since then, he has recorded a round of 65 or lower 14 times across 13 tournaments.

“It's weird, in college I was kind of someone that would shoot 2, 3 under every time out and would have trouble going low, but you adapt to your surroundings just like us as humans, so I guess out here that's what you have to do,” said James after his Friday round.

“I've been rolling it well and playing well, so nice to be shooting some low numbers.”