Ben Griffin: “I know I can win one of these Signature Events or a major. It’s just a matter of time”

Ben Griffin after finishes second behind Scottie Scheffler at Memorial Tournament.

All right, Ben, solid week runner up finish. How would you assess the week and what are the positives you’ll take away? Yeah, definitely um disappointed. Um you know, my putter definitely wasn’t quite 100% there. Kind of most of the day. I made it exciting there at the end for a couple holes, but um yeah, ultimately, I mean, it’s funny. I take this finish like a year ago, two years ago, three years ago, and I’m definitely a little disappointed um to to not have made it a little bit closer or gotten it done. So, um I’ll learn from some of my uh swings down the stretch. I’ll remember some of the good stuff and um I’ll bounce back and and get right back to it. So, um overall great week, but um yeah, definitely a little disappointed with the second. Is it hard to stay in the present and lock in and not think about the past or the future when you’re out there in that spotlight or did you do a pretty good job? No, I did a great job staying in the present. Um yeah, I think that’s I think all PJ tour players are are pretty good at it. Um, and that’s why the scores are so low every week. Um, you know, this is obviously one of the toughest tests we have on tour. And, um, yeah, I was very present. Um, you know, I I didn’t try to I didn’t look ahead to holes. I I was just excited for each individual shot. And, uh, I think I’ve come a long ways mentally and um, physically to allow myself to do that. So, earlier in your career, you struggle or it was harder to stay in the present? Probably. Yeah. I mean, just, you know, hadn’t necessarily won. Um, it’s easy for your head to kind of spin a little bit and I think I’m just in such a great headsp space to be a a top elite competitor now and you know this one I’m going to make sure it kind of stings a little bit because I’m going to come back um with some vengeance hopefully. You said one or two years ago that you would have taken this finish. Is there going to be a point at some point where you you’ll think a second at the memorial’s good or or or is it I mean certainly it’s an incredible finish. I mean this is like one of the best feels in golf. So, it I’m definitely I’m proving further more that I belong at the top in this game. Um, it just uh I’ve gotten to the point where I really like winning. You know, I won twice the last five weeks and those feelings are fun on Sunday nights when you’re signing a bunch of flags and I was prepared to do that today and um ultimately just didn’t um execute um how I wanted to to get it done. And so, I’m going to bounce back. I’ve got the US Open in two weeks and so uh I’m I’m more confident than anyone that I can um compete there and hopefully make things interesting. What’s what’s it like playing Scotty when he’s in the lead on a Sunday and I know you’re playing the course, but you’re also playing him. What’s the kind of the mindset and and what’s that challenge? Yeah, it’s I try not to think too much about what he was necessarily doing. Um but it’s easy to assume what he’s going to do. You know, you know he’s going to hit fairways. you know, he’s going to hit greens. He’s not really going to make mistakes and make a bogey, and if he does, it’s because like 10, he doesn’t have a back swing, so he can’t get it to the green. I mean, it’s stuff like that. So, I knew going into today, I needed to shoot under par. And um I knew my game was there. I just um my putter was just a little shaky early. For some reason, I didn’t feel as comfortable on the greens as I did the first three rounds and then going back to last week at the Charles Schwab. And so I did a good job towards the end feeling things out and kind of getting those feelings back. Um it just kind of stings, but um yeah, he’s a he’s a heck of a golfer. I mean, he’s he’s the best in the world. How big was the 11th hole where he made that 14-footer look like you might gain a shot? Yeah, it I honestly I wish I hadn’t even called a rules official over and just played my ball because I I feel like I I waited five or six minutes and kind of got out of my rhythm and I’m sure I mean Scott even I don’t even know what his rhythm is. He still made the putt, but um you know that that was Yeah, that was a big moment for him. I just you know I’d just gotten one back on 10 and so I was within a shot and then those next couple holes those next those three holes in a row where I lost a shot to him on every hole was uh was tough. But I’m proud of the way I kind of, you know, held myself in it and played really aggressive. Hitting driver on 14 was awesome. Um, very proud that I I executed that shot. Honestly, it was two or three paces more left and that potentially gets up there to like 10 or 15 feet, but I told my caddy I needed to make an eagle or two to to beat him. I knew I needed to go at least four under or five under on the final stretch. And so that was a situation where I needed to hit driver. And um, yeah, proud of myself for for staying aggressive there. 17 sucked. Um, you know, there’s not much you can do. Um, it’s just a really tough golf course when you get out of position. And yeah, I wish I had that T-shot back and and made things a little bit more interesting, especially since I had a great T- shot on 18. Could have really applied some pressure there. But, um, all in all, second place, I’ll I’ll bounce back. You mentioned the Eagle. You You had the one. It’s got to be I’m thinking about what you’re thinking. You hit a great shot and then he almost matches you on those within a foot of each other. What’s that? I mean, yeah. I mean, it’s pretty cool. Well, I think as a viewer, anyone watching, I mean, it’s it’s it doesn’t get any more exciting than that. Um, when that happens and then obviously I make it interesting on 16, but yeah, I mean, those were probably two of the best shots of the day on that hole. Um, coming both from the final group. I um had a great number to swing hard at the 7wood from 260. Wind was kind of died down and um I was pretty fired up after executing and then yeah, shocker, he puts it in there right the same length. But um yeah, I fought I fought at the end. Um I need to need to be better on situation like 17, but yeah, it’s uh I’ll learn from this. Ben, you mentioned your confidence. What do you think about your game is going to translate well at Oak? Yeah, I mean uh I’m hitting the ball far. I’m hitting it, you know, pretty straight off the tea. Um hitting a lot of fairways. Um just need to make sure the putter still stays stable. Um don’t get any don’t get shaky with that. And um I feel like I’m right I’m going to be right there in the mix. Um I think that a test like this this week, it’ll prepare you for anywhere. So on 14, did you hit that shot earlier in the week in practice rounds and talk a little bit about what when did you make that decision to Yeah, I’ve never done it in my life. Never done a practice round. Never done it in eight rounds I played here or more. I mean, actually way more. Probably 15 rounds I played here. I’ve never even thought about hitting driver. Um granted, I’m a little bit longer than I was last year and the year before. Um, yeah, it was a situation where we’re looking at, we’re doing the math and there’s wind and I know I need to do something to beat him. Like if I hit in the fairway and then hit on the green and two I I’m not going to gain a shot. There’s no way like he puts in the bunker, he’s still going to get up and like he still gets up and down. So I knew I needed to make up some ground and I had to hit driver there and just had to envision the shot. I mean just because I haven’t hit a shot before doesn’t mean I’m I’m not ready for it. I can still still pull it off. your same age. You and Scotty, you played a lot of junior golf. Did you have any sense back when you were playing junior golf that he would end up being this good? No, I don’t think any of us in junior golf ever like think we’re going to be the best players on the PJ tour. It’s funny at the time we’re like our goals are to obviously get through college and get on the PJ tour and we we want to be like the best players on tour, but we’re so young and we’re just competing against each other and like we’re all pretty good at golf, but you you don’t really expect it. It’s really cool now being at the age where we’re all at like kind of the top of top of the game. Morawa, Sam Burns. Um there’s a big list of names that are kind of in my age age group. Um, so it’s it’s pretty cool to have um shared experiences in junior golf and now be out here. Um, but yeah, I’d say a message to like any junior golfers is like you just got to trust the process and and keep learning and and keep your love for the game cuz if you’re a top junior golfer right now, you will be on the PGA Tour more than likely and you just got to stick with it and trust it and um and don’t get intimidated by it. He was just another really good junior golfer. There was no clue in your mind that he was going to be abyss. No, I don’t think so. I mean, look, Scotty achieved a lot in junior golf. Um, but by no means was he as dominant as he is right now. Um, I remember I think he he might have won player of the year, maybe one or two of the years in junior golf. Um, I remember AJJ Invitationals. Um, I won one. I’m sure he won a couple. I mean, guys, a bunch of different guys were winning. Um, so he definitely wasn’t as dominant as he is now. He’s just really perfect perfected his craft and really loves the grind and is always trying to get better and so that’s what separates him so much from a lot of guys is he’s just put in so many hours of being pretty much a robot. Big pairing today coming down the stretch. What’d you learn about yourself and your game today? Yeah, I mean it’s I haven’t necessarily assessed it. I’ve just signed a scorecard and come to you guys. But um I mean I can compete out here. I I can do I can get it done. I got it done last week. Um I maybe haven’t made it look as easy as I I wish it it would the last couple weeks, but I know I’m going to finish one of these off with a bunch of birdies soon and and really dominate one. Um I had chances this week to kind of separate myself and this golf course is just you got to lock in on every single shot. It’s not that I wasn’t locked in, it’s just comes down to a little bit of execution. I struggled on my right to lefters today and strugg I missed that one on 18 last night and it’s kind of bothering me right now. So, I’m going to work on my right to left putts. Um, no doubt um this off this off week. Um, but from like a a mental standpoint, like I felt really good out there. I felt calm. I I felt like I was engaged with the fans, which was really fun. Uh, was able to balance that and also, you know, keeping my swagger on the course and playing well. And so I know I can I know I can get it get it done one of these signature events um and majors. It’s just uh only a matter of time. Awesome. Thanks. Thank you guys. Appreciate it.