Ben Griffin is one of the most talked-about names on the PGA Tour right now, and for good reason. He went from working as a mortgage loan officer to winning three PGA Tour titles in a single season. Below you will find everything about his career, his breakout year, his current 2026 stats, and the story that turned him into a fan favorite.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Benjamin Griffin |
| Age | 30 |
| Birthdate | May 6, 1996 |
| Birthplace | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Residence | Jupiter, Florida |
| Plays From | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Height | 6’1″ (1.85m) |
| Weight | 180 lbs (82 kg) |
| College | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Turned Pro | 2018 |
| Family | Wife, Dana |
| PGA TOUR Wins | 3 (2025 Zurich Classic, 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge, 2025 WWT Championship) |
| Career Earnings (PGA TOUR) | $22,480,646 |
| 2026 Season Earnings | $4,033,407 |
| Current OWGR Rank | 20th |
| FedExCup Standing (2026) | 36th |
| National Teams | Ryder Cup (2025) |
| Home Club | Sea Island Golf Club |
Who Is Ben Griffin?
Ben Griffin is an American professional golfer competing on the PGA Tour. He was born on May 6, 1996, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He played four years of college golf at the University of North Carolina before turning pro in 2018.
His story stands out because it is not a straight line to success. Ben Griffin actually left professional golf for a period. He came back stronger than ever and built one of the best comeback stories the sport has seen in recent years.
The Loan Officer Comeback Story
This is the part of Ben Griffin’s journey that most fans know him for. After turning professional in 2018, he struggled on the Canadian Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. Results were not coming, and bills kept piling up.
By 2021, Griffin was carrying around $17,000 in credit card debt. The financial pressure became too much, so he stepped away from the game completely. He worked as a mortgage loan officer in North Carolina during the spring and summer of that year. Before that role, he had also worked as a property manager for a North Carolina realty company.
How He Got Back Into Golf
A group of friends and backers stepped in with financial sponsorship. That support gave him the confidence to return to competitive golf. Nobody could have predicted what happened next. Within a few years, Ben Griffin went from filing mortgage paperwork to lifting PGA Tour trophies.
Amateur Career and College Highlights
Before his professional struggles and eventual breakthrough, Ben Griffin had an impressive amateur record.
- He played collegiately at North Carolina from 2014 to 2018.
- He earned All-America Honorable Mentions in 2015 and 2017.
- He picked up All-America Scholar honors in 2017 and 2018.
- He was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference in both 2015 and 2018.
- He won three individual titles while at North Carolina.
- He broke the school’s career scoring average record at 72.02, a mark once held by Davis Love III.
Junior Golf Achievements
Griffin was winning tournaments long before college. He won two U.S. Kids Golf Teen World Golf Championships at Pinehurst, taking the Boys 14 title in 2010 and the Boys 15-18 crown in 2011. In that 2011 win, he beat future Korn Ferry Tour member Will Gordon by a single stroke.
He also won the 2013 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions, competing against a field that included Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa. That same year, he earned a spot on the AJGA Rolex Junior All-America First Team alongside both of those future major champions.
Ben Griffin’s PGA Tour Wins and Career Milestones
The 2025 season is when everything changed for Ben Griffin. He picked up three PGA Tour wins in one year, something very few players manage to accomplish.
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Win at TPC Louisiana
Griffin claimed his first PGA Tour title at TPC Louisiana, teaming up with his longtime friend Andrew Novak at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This event uses a unique two-man team format, and the pair handled the pressure perfectly.
They held off a strong Sunday charge from the Højgaard twins to win by just one stroke. Their scoring was outstanding across the week, posting team rounds of 62, 66, 61, and 71 to finish at 28-under par, a total of 260.
The defining moment came on the 71st hole, the par-3 17th, which played as the hardest hole of the entire tournament. Griffin sank a clutch 34-foot birdie putt there to seal the win and secure the trophy at TPC Louisiana.
Charles Schwab Challenge and WWT Championship
After breaking through at TPC Louisiana, Ben Griffin kept his momentum going. He won the Charles Schwab Challenge on his own, followed later by an individual win at the Worldwide Technology Championship, where he also broke the tournament scoring record.
Major Championship Success
Griffin didn’t just win regular events. He also posted strong finishes in majors during his breakout year, including a top-10 finish at the PGA Championship and another top-10 finish at the U.S. Open.
Ryder Cup Debut
His 2025 season was rewarded with a spot on Team USA at the Ryder Cup, played at Bethpage Black under captain Keegan Bradley. Making the Ryder Cup team is one of the highest honors in golf, and it capped off a remarkable turnaround for Griffin.
Ben Griffin’s Return to TPC Louisiana in 2026
As the defending champion, Ben Griffin headed back to Avondale, Louisiana, in April 2026 to try and defend his title at TPC Louisiana with Andrew Novak. The pressure of defending a title is never easy, especially in a team format.
The duo made the cut and grinded out a T10 finish. They shot a combined 26-under par total of 262 for the week, earning a payday of $224,992. While they didn’t repeat as champions, the finish showed that their chemistry as a team was still strong.
Ben Griffin 2026 Season Performance
Here is a breakdown of how Ben Griffin has performed across the 2026 PGA Tour season so far.
| Tournament | Position | Score | To Par | Winnings |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | T19 | 272 | -8 | $111,839 |
| The American Express | T24 | 270 | -18 | $81,420 |
| WM Phoenix Open | T28 | 277 | -7 | $62,948 |
| AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | T37 | 277 | -11 | $78,375 |
| The Genesis Invitational | T41 | 281 | -3 | $78,000 |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | T10 | 262 | -26 | $112,495 |
| Cadillac Championship | 3rd | 276 | -12 | $1,360,000 |
| PGA Championship | T14 | 278 | -2 | $364,762 |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | T3 | 269 | -11 | $524,700 |
| U.S. Open | T17 | 283 | +3 | $280,966 |
| Travelers Championship | T10 | 264 | -16 | $520,000 |
| John Deere Classic | T21 | 271 | -13 | $100,056 |
As of the 2026 season, Ben Griffin has made 17 out of 23 cuts, with zero wins but two runner-up finishes, two third-place finishes, four top 5s, and nine top 10s.
Ben Griffin Strokes Gained Stats for 2026
Strokes gained data gives a clearer picture of where a player’s game is strongest. Here is how Ben Griffin ranks across the major statistical categories this season.
| Statistic | Value | Tour Rank |
| SG: Total | 0.665 | 37th |
| SG: Off the Tee | -0.080 | 110th |
| SG: Approach the Green | -0.116 | 115th |
| SG: Around the Green | 0.398 | 25th |
| SG: Putting | 0.398 | 25th |
| Driving Distance | 304.9 yards | 94th |
| Driving Accuracy | 61.06% | 75th |
| Greens in Regulation | 67.32% | 71st |
| Scrambling | 63.53% | 28th |
| Sand Save Percentage | 67.46% | 1st |
| Putts per Round | 28.71 | 59th |
| Scoring Average | 69.62 | 41st |
| Birdie Average | 3.70 per round | 114th |
His short game is a major strength this year. He ranks first on Tour in sand save percentage, and he sits inside the top 30 for scrambling and putts gained around the green. His weaker areas right now are off the tee and approach play, where he ranks outside the top 100.
Season Snapshot
- Career PGA Tour Wins: 3
- Career Earnings: $22,480,646
- 2026 Season Earnings: $4,033,407
- Current OWGR Rank: 20th
- FedExCup Standing: 36th
- Best 2026 Finish: 3rd at the Cadillac Championship
Ben Griffin’s Personal Life
Away from the course, Ben Griffin keeps things fairly grounded. He is married to his wife, Dana, and currently resides in Jupiter, Florida, though he still calls Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home.
A few personal details fans often ask about:
- He does not drink coffee or soda.
- He enjoys spending time at the lake wakeboarding.
- His parents, Cowan and Erika, met at the University of North Carolina.
- His great grandfather, Benjamin Cowan Shields, was a professional baseball pitcher who played for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies in the 1920s and 1930s.
Golf has been part of his life since he could walk. He remembers playing in U.S. Kids Golf events as a child, with his dad caddying for him at nearly every event.
Physical Stats and Background
| Category | Details |
| Height | 6’1″ (1.85m) |
| Weight | 180 lbs (82 kg) |
| Birthplace | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Residence | Jupiter, Florida |
| College | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Exempt Status | Tournament winner (through 2029) |
Conclusion
Ben Griffin’s journey from a struggling mortgage loan officer to a three-time PGA Tour winner is one of the best stories in modern golf. His breakthrough win at TPC Louisiana alongside Andrew Novak kicked off a season that included two more titles, a Ryder Cup debut, and a career-best world ranking inside the top 15. Heading into the rest of the 2026 season, Ben Griffin continues to build on that momentum, backed by a strong short game and consistent finishes near the top of leaderboards. Fans watching his career know that his story at TPC Louisiana was just the beginning, not the peak.
FAQs About Ben Griffin
- Who is Ben Griffin in golf?
Ben Griffin is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour, known for his comeback story after briefly working as a mortgage loan officer.
- How many PGA Tour wins does Ben Griffin have?
Ben Griffin has three PGA Tour wins, all coming during his breakout 2025 season.
- Did Ben Griffin win at TPC Louisiana?
Yes, He won the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana alongside partner Andrew Novak.
- What was Ben Griffin’s job before golf?
He worked as a mortgage loan officer and previously as a property manager in North Carolina after briefly stepping away from professional golf in 2021.
- What college did Ben Griffin attend?
He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played four seasons of college golf.
- Is Ben Griffin married?
Yes, Ben Griffin is married to his wife, Dana.
- What is Ben Griffin’s current world ranking?
As of the 2026 season, Ben Griffin holds an Official World Golf Ranking of 20th.
- Did Ben Griffin make the Ryder Cup team?
Yes, he made his Ryder Cup debut in 2025 as part of Team USA at Bethpage Black.