“I Outdrove Bryson (Once)” — Ben Griffin on Practice Pairing & No.1 Chaos Ryder Cup

Ryder Cup rookie Ben Griffin breaks down a whirlwind season: 13 straight starts, a near-miss at the Masters cutoff (No. 51 OWGR), a first PGA TOUR win at Zurich with Andrew → momentum into Colonial (Charles Schwab) and a PGA top-10 — all leading to Team USA at Bethpage Black. He explains why the U.S. locker room is “much closer than people think,” what he’s learning from Bryson DeChambeau (equipment/process, yes, he outdrove him once), and how he’ll handle the first-tee tunnel in New York.

Griffin talks match play mindset (why emotions spike, why reactions will be raw & real), nicknames (“Benny Booms” vs “Bethpage Bennie”), and even handicaps Bryson’s odds to drive No.1 in the right wind. Plus: friendships across tours, buying into the team format, and why this week creates lifelong memories.

Masters, when you look back six months ago to where you’re sitting now, how do you try to encapsulate everything that’s happened in your career? Yeah, it’s been a busy year for me. Um, played a lot of events for sure. Um, I felt like this year it’s kind of um I’ve played for a lot kind of every single week. Um, I’ve built my game up a lot over the over the course of the season. You know, if you look at where I was at at the start of the year, kind of one of those guys who was had finished between 50 and 60 on the FedEx Cup the previous two seasons. Um, this year obviously was more breakthrough, but kind of going through the season, I was kind of gradually getting closer and closer to kind of getting to the next step on of professional golf and the PJ tour of like getting into the signature events, getting into the majors. Um, and I felt like I did a really good job of kind of letting my game not wander off and and staying focused to the plan and um, just continuing to build. And so that’s why I kind of competed 13 straight weeks was I was only going to play six, but I was playing well and I was like, “All right, I’m gonna go play in Mexico.” Um, started playing well, had a couple top fives in a row in Mexico and also um the Cognizant that got me into Bay Hill because of the AON swing five. Um, I’m in the signature events now kind of. And so now I’ve got to add those to my schedule. Going into the season, I wasn’t necessarily in those. So I was maybe thinking about taking a week off somewhere in there. So I just kind of continued to qualify and Unfortunately, I fell, you know, fractionally short of making the Masters being 51 in the world. And it came down to, you know, Michael Kim’s putt on the last hole was the difference between him being on that field and me being in that field, which is crazy, really crazy to for that to happen. I don’t think that’s ever really happened um going into the that last Masters cutoff. So, I had a couple weeks there and then started came out of those two weeks and and won the Z Classic with Andrew. So, now I’ve kind of broken through as a PJ tour winner. um built a lot of confidence and then I kind of parlayed that into winning the Charles Schwab and and finishing top 10 at the PGA and all these I just kind of gradually got more and more momentum as the season kind of progressed and and continued to believe in myself. Um and gained a ton of confidence every single week I played and then this summer was uh pretty much just consistent top 15s. Um if you look at my last like I think it’s my last 13 or 14 events I’ve finished top 15 almost every week and um it’s been really solid golf. I haven’t been on in the mix as much as I was kind of in the spring, but then got back in the mix in Napa. Napa was a weird week because I felt like we were I was just bonding with all my teammates most of the week and then I kind of woke up on 17 or 16. I’m like, “Oh, I’ve got a chance to win this right now.” Even though I had the lead all week, it was just um it was an interesting week as a competing as a PJ tour player because a lot of those guys were kind of like me maybe the previous two season there two seasons they’re grinding to try to finish in the top 60 on the fax ball or grinding to keep their PJ tour card. For me, I that’s a that was a free week. Um and so I was just going out there trying to gain confidence going into this week and sure enough got in the mix and it was good to feel some of those nerves and um you know get those feelings down the stretch because there’s no doubt I’m going to have some of those same feelings um going into this week. Sorry for the long answer. Yep. How would you then describe your comfort level here in the last couple days um in terms of nerves and have you picked up any kind of advice on staying calm come tomorrow? Yeah, I think everyone on this team’s here for the the right reasons. We’re all um very accomplished golfers and believe in ourselves a lot and have a ton of confidence and um you know, just because I’m a rookie doesn’t mean I’m I’m nervous and and don’t know what I’m doing out there. I feel very calm, composed, and um honestly really excited. Um it’s been really fun getting to know every every guy on this team more. Um I knew everyone going into even before the selections were even going on with the Ryder Cup and um this team’s actually much closer than what a lot’s portrayed out there. Um we’re having a ton of fun in the team rooms. Um Captain Keegan’s doing an awesome job of keeping us all focused on the task at hand, but also making sure we’re embracing all these moments together. Um, and it’s been incredible out there with the fans early on in this week. I know it’s going to get even crazier, but um, yeah, I feel very relaxed and calm right now. Now, I know when I go through that tunnel in the first TE on on Friday, it’s going to be there’s going to be a lot more emotions that go go through, but um, I’m ready for it. Top right corner there, 15. Ben, you’ve been grouped with Bryson in practice each of the last three days. As you’ve played together, what have you learned about him as a teammate, and what have the crowds following you guys been like? I out drove him once, so I’m feeling pretty good. Um, no, Bryson’s amazing. He’s uh he’s been awesome to uh to have on this team. He’s a huge asset for us. Uh played a lot of golf with him this week. Uh had gotten to know him prior um not only in Napa, but but previous to that. And so um he’s got an incredible amount of talent. It’s been awesome to honestly talk to him about his thoughts on equipment and his process and learn about kind of how he goes through um through his process cuz it’s a lot different than what all of us do um if you just look at it from an equipment side and and green reading and everything like that. So, it’s been cool to it’s cool because these these team events is um you finally feel comfortable asking other competitors how they think about things, what they work on. When you’re playing in regular tour events, no one wants to really share much. You kind of stick to your own stuff. And so, it’s really cool to kind of learn from every guy and and how they think about um think their way around golf courses. Um and yeah, Bryson’s just an example of of one that’s maybe a little bit more unique than the rest of the teammates. Dan, go ahead. Guys in the past have said that it wasn’t until their first Rder Cup that they really felt like they sort of belonged or there’s a sort of shift that happens when you get to that level. Can can you understand why guys say that? Yeah, I think there’s maybe um not necessarily like an intimidation factor when you first get on tour, but there’s definitely a a separation you feel between being like a rookie on tour and being a top player. When you’re a top player, you’re kind of around top players a lot, whether it’s tea times on the PJ tour. You’re grouped together all the time if you’re a major champion or a PJ tour winner. So, you’re never really around the the guys that are at the top. So, my first two years on tour, I hadn’t won on I hadn’t won. So, I’d never played around with Justin Thomas, never played around with Jordan Speed, never played around with Ricky Fowl. there’s a ton of, you know, top names in golf at the time when when I just turned pro, um that I just never would kind of see because I’m in different tea time waves. And then on the weekends, it’s you don’t know what you’re going to get. But if you’re grouped in a certain tea time wave early and you finish at the same time as maybe the guys you’re playing with, you’re probably playing with those same guys if you have the same score on the weekend on Saturday. So unless you get kind of paired at the top on Sundays, you’re you’re not playing with a lot of those guys. So it’s hard to build those friendships early on tour. Now, when you start playing really well and you kind of work your way to a top player, you kind of get closer with the guys that you’re you’re closest around. So, um you know, I’m still friends with a lot of a lot of guys on the Cornferry tour and a lot of guys that are strugg are grinding right now to kind of keep their PJ tour cards, but now I’m also getting introduced to more guys that are, you know, elite players in this game. So, I have a huge mix of friendships right now, which is interesting. And you kind of I feel like you see that in all sorts of in any realm of life. kind of your closest friends are the ones you’re you’re hanging out hanging out with the most or around the most whether it’s in work or outside of work and you know being a PJ tour golfer it’s pretty much work around the clock unless you’re home in an off week you don’t know if other guys are going to be home that off week or if they’re playing somewhere so you’re kind of always around the guys that you’re paired with or um if you’re playing really well the guys you’re with on the weekend and tour events but even final rounds in tour events you’re not talking to your competitor that much especially if they’re a top player because you’re trying to win the golf tournament so it’s hard to kind of break in and and become friends with guys that you’re not that you haven’t been around much. So, if you look at a guy like me, I I had never won on tour until April. So, you know, I I played practice rounds with Justin Thomas before, but I I had never gotten really that close with him until kind of this summer. Um, and you look at other guys on the team. I mean, Scotty, Sam Burns, Colin I’ve known since junior golf, but everyone’s kind of on their own their own schedules. And if I’m in different tea time groupings on tour events, I’m not just not going to see them very much. Um, and so it’s interesting how that dynamic works. But, um, yeah, I feel like I have friends that are are grinding on the PGA Americas, guys that are grinding on the cornfairy tour because I’ve kind of had this pretty quick trajectory in golf where I still have friends that are kind of trying to break through. Back up top to Paul up 16. And these events tend to bring out different sides of players. Do you have a sense of what you’ll be like in big moments when they happen on the course, animated, subdued? Do you kind of know what you’re going to feel? Um, I definitely will will feed some emotions off with the crowd. Um, there’s no doubt about that. We see it from every player. Um, hopefully we get some emotion from Cameron Young this week. I think we will. Um, but no, I mean, most tour events you just don’t you don’t have that because we we don’t play match play very much uh or ever now. um you know, it’s really just here and and in match play, the format just brings that out because in stroke play events, like if you’re fist pumping on Friday or Saturday, it’s not as meaningful when you’re when you’re fist pumping because you made a putt and it’s to go one up with three to play has a lot of meaning. Um because you’re playing each and every match is so important. You’re playing, you know, five tournaments within this one tournament. Every single round you’re playing if you’re playing five matches. And so it’s a different um you’re you’re mentally you’re going through your rounds differently than you would in any other tour event. And because of that, emotions are going to come out more often. That’s why everyone loves the RDER Cup. Um and I’m sure I will have some great reactions out there. I hope to have a lot. Um but I haven’t planned anything out. I think it’s all going to be raw and and real in real time. And I don’t know what my body’s going to do in those certain moments, but hopefully it looks cool. Over to nine. Yep. Uh Ben, I’m wondering, are you aware of the Benny Boon’s uh nickname? I am. What is the origin story behind it? Yeah, like Allan. Um Allan Adam. Adam, sorry. Um like Adam said, um Eric Ly, he’s a content creator. Um I think he started that uh in a video that we did at the FedEx St. Jude Classic um or St. championship um for the playoffs and I think people commented on it and people needed a nickname for me because I’m a new face and I guess that one’s landed for now. I’ve also heard a lot of Beth Page Benny’s over the last like four months. I I might like that one a little bit more, but hey, people can can say what they want. I’m all open to free speech. You have a nickname. Hey Ben, uh how many players on the US team would you say are capable of driving the green at one? Um maybe one. Um it’s only in the right I mean right now looks like the flags are going down. It’s a little rainy, but I bet if Bryson went out there right now, he could probably do it. I mean I witnessed him do it um two days ago. Um everyone else is just probably playing it to the left. Um I know I certainly am right now. Um the wind’s got to be right. It’s got to be hot. It’s probably got to be pretty loud. What would you What would you handicap the odds in in the in the optimal conditions of of Bryson driving the green there? If you if you gave him 10 balls, is he going to hit the If I gave him 10 balls in the right conditions if he knows he can get it there, I mean, he’s going to hit three probably on the surface or on the French and five are going to be like in a bunker or on the green and then add another two that are going to be like 20 yards left and maybe one or two right. I mean, I don’t know, maybe one bad one, but yeah, hitting it pretty pretty good right now. Um, I played a lot with him and, uh, he’s pretty confident. Finish up right here on seven. Thanks. Hi, Ben. Um, golf is essentially a solitary sport as you’ve said, and the Ryder Cup is one of those exceptions. How much have you bought into the team concept? What do you enjoy most about it, and how much are you looking forward to that first te experience when it eventually comes around? Yeah, this has been one of the the coolest weeks ever and it’s one that I haven’t really experienced since uh the Windham Cup AJ event in junior golf where I was honestly I was competing against Scotty Sheffller and Sam Burns who are representing the west side of the Mississippi and I was on the east side so my teammates would have been um you know Davis Riley um Doug Gam I believe uh Illinois I got to look at a map but um a lot of PJ tour players played in that and that’s the last time I’ve kind of experienced a true team against team event. Actually, I take that back. Um, when I was on the Canadian tour, the Mackenzie tour at the time, it was the last year they had what was the called the Aruba Cup, but we ended up doing it in in I think Kazumel or Cancun. Um, where the top 12 players from Canada played the top 12 guys who finished on that money list from or maybe it was top 10 from the Latin America Tour. So, that was seven years ago. Um, end of the summer of 2018. Um, so I haven’t had that much experience. I mean, at least in the last seven years, other than playing in the Zurich Classic, um, where I’ve felt like I’ve had a team, even though it was a small team with Andrew this past year. Um, but it’s been, uh, it’s been really cool again like learning from other guys and just being together with guys who all who all have the same common goal. Like, sure, every week on tour you have a common goal of trying to win the tournament, but but you’re not working together to win that tournament. You’re working individually to win that tournament and beat the guy you’re talking to. Um and so in this team format, it’s just really cool to um to pull for each and every guy on the team. And everyone’s just closer because of it. Um you know, a guy, for example, a guy like Patrick Antlay who’s not going to, you know, he’s going to go about his business on a normal PJ tour week, a week like this, I I’ve gotten to know Patrick way more. And um it’s really cool to see him buy into this full team format. And he’ll do anything and everything for every single guy on this team. And that’s what’s so cool and what’s not seen because it’s behind closed doors. But um it’s really cool to see how close this team really is. And you know, I had no I didn’t know what a Ryder Cup was really like. I mean, even at the start of this year or two years ago, I don’t know what previous teams were like. I don’t know what other captaincies were like, but seeing it right now, I mean, it’s truly indescribable how how how kind of close we all are kind of getting, how much time we spend with each other. We we are on our own schedules a little bit in terms of like working out and physio and and sleep. But I’ll tell you that we’re together all the time and it’s been really really cool and it’s uh memories I’ll I’ll be able to have for the rest of my life. First tea. Are you looking forward to that? Quite an experience. Absolutely. It’s going to be insane. But yeah, I’m really excited to go through that tunnel and um and hear the crowd and and um fire off a good one. Thanks for your time, Ben. We appreciate it. Thank you. Appreciate it.