Ben Griffin has been one of the PGA Tour’s hottest golfers this season, but his career has had more ups and downs than most
Ben Griffin has had an unusual journey to the top of the golfing world(Image: AP)
Ben Griffin’s golf career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The American star, now a two-time PGA Tour winner and currently ranked 17th in the world, had once hung up his clubs and walked away from the sport.
In 2021, he decided to quit golf due to mounting debt and a dwindling passion for the game. His mother’s profession as a mortgage loan officer seemed like a logical path for Griffin, who was also selected by Keegan Bradley as one of his captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup.
In an interview with Golf Digest, he confessed: “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 stint away from the greens was short-lived.
The allure of golf was too strong for the 29-year-old, who admitted that he “accidentally” ended up at a golf course instead of his office one day, prompting him to give his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood dream another shot, reports the Mirror US.
Upon his return to the sport, Griffin made significant changes to his lifestyle, including adopting a vegan diet, encouraged by his girlfriend. Two years after leaving the sport, he secured his PGA Tour card in 2023.
Although his winning streak didn’t immediately pick up, his consistency did. Participating in 13 consecutive tournaments saw Griffin climb to 51st in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
The Zurich Classic earlier this year was won by Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak(Image: AP)
A disappointing missed cut at the Masters did little to dampen his hunger for success, as fewer than two weeks later Griffin claimed his debut title alongside Andrew Novak when the pair triumphed at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The winner’s portion of the prize fund saw each golfer pocket £1million, with Griffin not having to wait long before securing his maiden individual triumph on the PGA Tour.
Less than a month passed before he earned £1.2m following his victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. It marked his second triumph in his previous five appearances and he was clearly lifted after seeing off the challenge of players including Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood for the silverware.
“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.
The 29-year-old’s first solo win came at the Charles Schwab Challenge(Image: Getty Images)
“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.” Combined with his other tournament results, Griffin has banked a staggering £11m so far this year and now gears up to feature in his maiden Ryder Cup later this month at Bethpage Black Course.
Griffin will line up alongside Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.
Hoping to capture their first Ryder Cup triumph since 2021, Team USA take on a Team Europe consisting of Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tyrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick.
