Ben Griffin is leading the way at the Procore and his college mate Austin Hitt is doing the same thing on the Korn Ferry Tour
Ben Griffin of the United States
Ben Griffin reckons Brazil nuts are the secret to his power-packed Bethpage build-up.
And the Ryder Cup star has revealed he once hid his college pal’s golf clubs in a prank which is now paying big dividends for mate Austin Hitt.
Griffin heads the pack of Keegan Bradley’s New York-bound stars including World No.1 Scottie Scheffler at the Procore Championship as he leads by three at the halfway mark.
The 29-year-old has been superb on the PGA Tour this term with two wins and a string of high finishes earning him a captain’s pick. for the clash against Luke Donald’s visitors
Griffin has found a new edge with snacks this week as he explained: “I’ve actually been eating Brazil nuts before I tee off. This has been a recent thing for this week. You’re supposed to take two or three.
“It’s good for your gut health or something. So I’ve been taking some Brazil nuts the last couple days and it’s been working. “I told Justin [Thomas] that in scoring. He said he’s about to take some, go have a couple Brazil nuts. So, everyone out there, maybe, should try it, too. Bogey-free!”
Keegan Bradley after being sworn in as the next US Ryder Cup captain(Image: AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
As Griffin sets the pace at Napa, his North Carolina college buddy Hitt is doing the same on the Korn Ferry Tour as he shot 61 in the second round at Simmons Bank Open.
Back in the day, the pair played together and the Ryder Cup star had a way of making sure his pal’s putting improved.
It’s working a treat this week and Griffin said: “I’ve known Austin since just before he got to college, so I was probably his sophomore. Awesome, awesome guy, awesome player. He’s dealt with a lot in the last couple years, but he’s been playing some really good golf. Pulling for him hard these last few weeks.
“He’s right on the cusp of getting his PGA Tour card. I know he’s capable of doing it and, hopefully, he can keep the pedal down just like me this week.
“I would always get to the course just before him in college and he was always known for hitting a bunch of balls, just to go straight to the range and then just go to the course and wouldn’t hit any putts.
“We all knew that he wasn’t as good of a putter back then and I knew I was a pretty good putter in college, so I hid all of his clubs except for his putter and I basically told him he had to beat me in a putting contest before he could go and hit balls. And rarely he would beat me and he would always get so frustrated. Eventually he’d give up and I’m like: Alright, go hit your irons or whatever.
“But, to be fair, I’d practised there for my entire life, I knew every break on the entire green and he’s coming from Orlando where he’s putting on Bermuda. He comes up there to bentgrass and so there’s a bit of an edge.
“Just a lot of good memories with Austin. He was a late bloomer, too, in high school. He didn’t start playing golf until he was 14 or 15 and then got recruited to go to North Carolina. He’s been on a very steady rise.
“I’d almost call it similar to Andrew Novak, how his career was in junior golf. I think Austin’s on a similar track to. Similar golfers, too. So it’ll be cool to follow him and, hopefully, he gets the job done this week.”
