Keegan Bradley’s decision to pick Ben Griffin for Team USA at the Ryder Cup is the latest incredible step in what has been an arduous journey to the very top of golf for the 29-year-old

Ben Griffin has endured a monumental rise to the top of golf in recent years(Image: Getty Images)

It’s been a whirlwind few years in Ben Griffin’s golf journey. While he now may be known as a two-time PGA Tour winner and the current world No. 17, it wasn’t long ago when the American star called time on his golf career.

It was in 2021 when he quit the sport after finding himself in significant debt and an inability to maintain his motivation for golf.

Given his mother’s career as a mortgage loan officer, it seemed only natural for Griffin, who was chosen as one of Keegan Bradley’s captain picks to compete at the Ryder Cup, to follow in her footsteps.

Speaking to Golf Digest, he revealed: “I’d lost my motivation and love for golf. The stress of playing with $15,000 of credit-card debt was agony, so I quit.”

However, his new-found livelihood didn’t last long as the allure of golf proved too much for the 29-year-old to resist. Admitting himself that he “accidentally” made a wrong turn towards a golf course on his way to the office, it was then when Griffin decided to give his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood dream one more go.

With a return to the sport, Griffin changed things up as he transformed his lifestyle and became a vegan, thanks to his girlfriend. Two years after quitting, he earned his PGA Tour card in 2023.

While his fortunes regarding wins didn’t turn a corner as he remained without a PGA triumph before April of this year, his consistency was impressive. Competing in 13 tournaments in a row saw Griffin rise to 51st in the OWGR.

Ben Griffin won the Zurich Classic with Andrew Novak in April(Image: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A missed cut at the Masters did nothing to quell his motivation for victory as it was less than two weeks later that Griffin captured his maiden title alongside Andrew Novak as the pair won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The winner’s share of the prize money meant the duo each banked $1.3 million as Griffin didn’t have to wait long to then secure his first solo victory on the PGA Tour.

It wasn’t even a month later when he earned $1.7M after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. It was his second victory in his last five starts and he was certainly buoyed after beating out the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood to the trophy.

Griffin’s first solo win came a month later at the Charles Schwab Challenge(Image: George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“It’s crazy how fast things can change in this game,” he said earlier this year. “Even going back to when I didn’t have any status on any sort of tours, getting onto the Korn Ferry Tour. I mean, it’s a bunch of stepping stones that kind of gets you to the next part of your career.

“Now I’m at the point where I feel like I’m starting to show that I am an elite golfer. I can compete against the best.”

On top of his subsequent event finishes, Griffin has pocketed a whopping $16M so far this year and now prepares to compete in his first Ryder Cup later this month at Bethpage Black Course.