Q. Yesterday where were you when you got the call that you were in?
BEN SILVERMAN: I was on the range putting in my second practice session of the day.
Q. Could you go through the timeline of the day when you got up, when you got here yesterday?
BEN SILVERMAN: Yeah, it was 4:30 a.m. alarm, gym session in my garage a little bit, and then here for a quick breakfast. I think I was on the range around 6:00 or 6:15 and full practice session in the morning and watched the guys at 8:33 tee off, went home for an hour and a half, saw my wife and kids, mini gym session, back here, warmup again, and then Katie called me right around 11:50 or something and told me Will was pulling out.
Q. Where do you live?
BEN SILVERMAN: I'm in Jupiter, about 15 minutes.
Q. What was it like being in that group of local guys?
BEN SILVERMAN: It was awesome. Honestly, I would love to play in a group like that every day, major winners, multiple PGA TOUR winners. It's a different vibe, different energy amongst the players, amongst the crowd. I like that environment. That's where I want to be. Thanks to Will, unfortunately, but throwing me in that position was fortunate.
Q. What was your confidence level Monday you were going to get in and then Thursday kind of around 11:30?
BEN SILVERMAN: I mean, my focus going into the week was I'm taking a week off at home, and if I get in, great. I was 15th alternate Sunday. I moved to 13th Monday morning, then that moved to fourth Monday afternoon, and the three guys in front of me I knew were committed to Argentina, so once they pulled out Wednesday, then it was, maybe I've got a chance now. I was pretty excited when it happened.
Q. How do you keep yourself poised mentally when you're just sitting there and you're waiting and you don't know if you're going to play, and boom, it's showtime and you've got to go out there and tee off with these guys?
BEN SILVERMAN: So I had the mentality that I was just practicing and preparing for next week because I'm going to be in Puerto Rico, and I'm here with my family as my third straight week at home, which has been amazing. If I got in, it would be a bonus in my mind.
So when it happened, I was almost reenergized until maybe two holes to go yesterday. My legs were wobbly. I was seeing the sun come down, and I was like, I've been here all day and then had to wake up again at 4:30 again this morning.
Q. It looks like the 2027 PGA TOUR schedule might come out soon. Are you just -- how do you feel about -- what's something you'd like to see with the new schedule and new changes from the FCC and if events like this might go away and they might cater towards the Signature Events?
BEN SILVERMAN: Yeah, that already happened with some of the other Signature Events that I loved, like Pebble and Travelers that were full-field events. I know there's a lot of guys that don't like it, but I'm sure when I'm in the top 80 or top 75 and I have a full schedule of elevated events, I'll probably be like, well, I get all the elevated events.
I'm not in a position to change it, so I can voice my dislike and it's not going to do anything, so I'm just going to try to play my best and get in that top 80 or 75 or whatever that number is.
Q. What's your status on the PGA TOUR?
BEN SILVERMAN: Conditional. I finished 140 last year.
Q. You were tied for fifth at Q-school, right?
BEN SILVERMAN: That didn't get me any TOUR status.
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