From Yale Football to the U.S. Open: James Nicholas on His First Win, Two Majors, and Q-School

Name: From Yale Football to the U.S. Open: James Nicholas on His First Win, Two Majors, and Q-School
Uploaded: 2026-11-10T14:00:22.000Z
Duration: 54 min 30 s

The Smylie Show›

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JNJames Nicholas

James Nicholas won in Bogotá, teed it up in two majors, and finished 30th on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, close enough to taste a PGA Tour card. With Q-School Final Stage a month out, he sits down with Smylie Kaufman to unpack the year, and why he's calling it the best of his career.

Plus: trading Yale football for golf, the pre-med path and family legacy he set aside, a 4 a.m. accountability plan, his mental coach's method for faster swing changes, time-blocking advice for amateurs, the PGA Tour's 2028 restructuring, a home wellness room, and a bonus question from Charlie Hulme.

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Chapters

0:00 Season recap, Bogotá win
2:37 Multi-sport upbringing
6:34 Yale football to golf
9:57 Breakout years at Yale
14:48 Pre-med and family legacy
19:08 Early pro years
22:11 Scheffler-level consistency
29:18 Swing change process
36:37 Time management advice
43:47 2028 tour restructuring
47:49 YouTube and Shinnecock
50:35 Wellness room

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