Ryder Cup Rookie Ben Griffin Was Selling Loans Four Years Ago

Ben Griffin, one of four Ryder Cup rookies on the American team, has come along way in four years.

Not to take anything away from the time he spent as mortgage loan officer, which Griffin still includes on his LinkedIn profile.

After taking to golf at a young age, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina native won two state titles in high school and then earned two All-American honorable mentions at his home university of UNC.

Griffin was on the often long and challenging road of becoming a pro golfer when covid hit and the smaller tournaments were cancelled.

Broke and unsure of his future, Ben got a regular 9-5.

Months later, his grandfather, who once played on the Yankees with Babe Ruth, passed away.

That inspired Griffin to give golf one last try.

After a run through Korn Ferry’s Q School, he qualified for the PGA Tour in 2023 and then made 25 of 27 cuts.

So far in 2025, he won the Zurich Classic and the Charles Schwab Challenge, and his finished runner-up in two other tournaments.

He called his Ryder Cup team selection “the biggest honor of a lifetime.”

photos/videos: @bengriffingolf
@rydercupusa
music: @viralnoisemusic

Ben Griffin, one of four Ryder Cup rookies on the American team, has come a long way in four years. Not to take anything away from the time he spent as a mortgage loan officer, which Griffin still includes on his LinkedIn profile. After taking to golf at a young age, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina native won two state titles in high school and then earned two all-American honorable mentions at his home University of UNC. Griffin was on the often long and challenging road of becoming a pro golfer when COVID hit and the smaller tournaments were cancelled. Broke and unsure of his future, Ben got a regular 9 to5. Once later, his grandfather, who once played on the Yankees with Babe Ruth, passed away that inspired Griffin to give golf one last try. After a run through Q school, he qualified for the PGA Tour in 2023 and then made 25 of 27 cuts. So far in 2025, he won the Zer Classic and the Charles Schwab Challenge and has finished runner up in two other tournaments. He called his RDER Cup team selection the biggest honor of a lifetime. [Music]