Who is Ben Griffin?

By: Patrick Stephenson

I grew up chasing golf balls around the Triangle—tournaments on Saturdays, school on weekdays, and always keeping an eye on the older kids who seemed to have it all figured out. Ben Griffin was one of those guys. A couple of years ahead of me, he was already making waves as arguably the best junior golfer in North Carolina, and I remember thinking, “That’s what I want to be someday.”

We weren’t from the same hometown—he was all Chapel Hill, and I was an hour away in Four Oaks—but our paths crossed regularly in Carolinas Golf Association events.

I’ll never forget the day I got paired with him at the Country Club of North Carolina. I was nervous, but he was as down-to-earth as they come, and although neither of us played our best that day, we had a great time and I got to see firsthand how the best operate.

From that round forward, I watched his journey closely, partly because I admired his game, and partly because I wondered what it really took to make the PGA Tour. This post is about that journey—who Ben Griffin is beyond the scorecard, how he navigated credit-card debt and a stint as a loan officer, and what it looks like when talent meets persistence plus opportunity.

Early Years and Junior Golf

Ben Griffin grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in a family where golf wasn’t just a hobby—it was part of the fabric. His father and grandfather introduced him to the game before he could read a yardage book, and by the time most kids were learning multiplication tables, Ben was already working on his swing mechanics. He spent his early years at Chapel Hill Country Club, soaking in the structure and discipline of the game. But when the 2008 financial crisis hit, his family had to give up their club membership, and suddenly, Ben was grinding it out on the public fairways at UNC Finley Golf Course. That didn’t slow him down—it might’ve been the best thing for him. Finley became both his training ground and proving ground.

In junior golf circles, Ben quickly earned a reputation as a machine. He played with the kind of quiet focus that separated him from most of us, and the results backed it up. While attending East Chapel Hill High School, he won two North Carolina 4A state championships—as a freshman and sophomore. That’s rare air. He also made his mark on the national stage, climbing the junior golf rankings with wins in events like the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions. What stood out wasn’t just the scores—it was how complete his game was, especially for someone his age. His fundamentals were rock-solid, his course management sharp, and his demeanor calm under pressure.

What a lot of people didn’t see was the grind behind the curtain. Ben wasn’t just naturally gifted—he worked for it. His dad was often on the bag at junior events, helping him make smart decisions and keeping him focused. I remember watching from a distance, thinking how dialed in they were as a team. Ben had the support system, the talent, and the mindset. By the time college recruiters came calling, it wasn’t a matter of if he’d play Division I golf—it was a matter of where.

Life as a Tarheel

Ben didn’t go far when it came time to choose a college—just a few miles down the road to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was a natural fit. He already knew the Finley Golf Course better than most of the team by the time he arrived in 2014, and that familiarity paid off. From day one, Ben was a difference-maker for the Tar Heels. He brought with him not just a polished game, but a sense of confidence that elevated the entire program. At the time, UNC wasn’t considered a powerhouse in collegiate golf, but Ben helped change that. His presence signaled that Chapel Hill could keep top talent in-state—and compete nationally.

Over his college career, Ben racked up accolades. He was a two-time honorable mention All-American (2016, 2017) and consistently one of the team’s top performers. He notched multiple collegiate wins, including the Tar Heel Intercollegiate (twice) and the Bridgestone Collegiate. He also carried a strong amateur resume with him, highlighted by a victory at the prestigious Rolex Tournament of Champions back in his junior golf days. On the course, his game matured—his iron play sharpened, his short game got tighter, and he became even more of a tactician. Off the course, he remained grounded, a quiet leader more focused on execution than attention.

But what really stood out was how steady he was. In college golf, where distractions are everywhere and confidence can swing with one bad round, Ben stayed consistent. He didn’t try to overpower courses or force results. He stuck to his game, trusted his process, and kept showing up. By the time he graduated in 2018, there was no question he was ready to turn pro. For those of us watching from the outside, it seemed like a straight shot to the PGA Tour. But as Ben would soon learn—and as his story shows—nothing about this game is ever that simple.

Turning Professional and Early Pro Career (2018–2020)

After graduating from UNC in 2018, Ben turned professional with the same quiet confidence he’d carried since junior golf. He didn’t make a big splash or announcement—he just got to work. He joined PGA Tour Canada (then known as the Mackenzie Tour) and wasted no time making his presence known, winning the Staal Foundation Open just a few months into his pro career. It looked like the next step on a smooth upward climb. But pro golf, especially at the developmental level, is a different beast. There’s no safety net, no guaranteed paycheck, and a lot more pressure to perform just to keep your head above water.

Griffin got a taste of that grind quickly. In 2019, he earned limited status on the Korn Ferry Tour and made only a handful of starts, missing more cuts than he made. He bounced around on mini-tours, including PGA Tour Latinoamérica and the LocaliQ Series, trying to find consistency and secure a foothold. It was a tough stretch—living out of hotels, traveling alone, and playing for small purses that barely covered expenses. For a guy who was used to contending, it wasn’t just humbling—it was draining.

Off the course, the financial pressure started to mount. Between travel, entry fees, equipment, and basic living costs, Ben found himself racking up credit card debt and wondering if he could sustain this path. The dream was still alive, but it was starting to feel distant. By the end of 2020, after grinding through Monday qualifiers and barely scraping by, he hit a breaking point. The game he loved had become a source of stress, and for the first time in his life, he questioned whether continuing to chase professional golf was still the right call.

Stepping Away and an Unexpected Breakthrough

In early 2021, he  made the kind of decision few young professional golfers are willing to make—he stepped away from the game. After a few tough years bouncing around on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Canada, and various mini-tours, the financial toll had caught up to him. He’d racked up nearly $17,000 in credit card debt trying to chase the dream and wasn’t seeing enough progress to justify the grind. So he put the clubs down and took a job as a mortgage loan officer with CIMG Residential Mortgage in Chapel Hill.

It was a major shift—going from early tee times and tournament prep to spreadsheets and client calls. And during this time, Ben also suffered a personal loss: his grandfather, who had played a foundational role in his life and golf journey, passed away. It was a tough stretch, both financially and emotionally. But even as he stepped away from competition, the game never left his heart. He’d still hit balls after work. Still think about what might have been. Still feel like his story in golf wasn’t finished.

Then came a life-changing gesture. One of his bosses at CIMG, who saw the quiet drive and integrity Ben brought to the office—along with a deep belief in his talent—offered him $125,000 to give professional golf one more shot. No strings attached. Just a vote of confidence from someone who believed in Ben more than Ben might have at the time.

With that backing, Ben returned to pro golf in 2022 with a renewed sense of perspective and freedom. No longer playing with desperation, he could simply focus on the game. The results came fast. He had a breakout season on the Korn Ferry Tour, racking up top-10 finishes, contending regularly, and ultimately securing his PGA Tour card for the 2022–2023 season. The guy who had once walked away now found himself on the biggest stage in golf—not because he never failed, but because he didn’t give up and found himself in the company of the right people.

Where is Ben Now?

Ben’s return to professional golf has turned into one of the most inspiring stories on the PGA Tour—and in recent weeks, that story reached a new level. After finding his footing during his first full season on Tour, Ben didn’t just stick around—he started winning.

The first breakthrough came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team event where he partnered with longtime friend and fellow Carolinian Andrew Novak. The chemistry between the two was obvious, and their complementary games held up under pressure. They battled through a tightly packed leaderboard and sealed the win with smart, steady play down the stretch. For Ben, it was more than just a trophy—it was validation that he belonged at the highest level. Sharing the win with a friend made it even more special, a full-circle moment after years of doubt and detours.

Just a few weeks later, Ben delivered his first solo PGA Tour win at one of the most historic and demanding venues in golf: Colonial Country Club, host of the Charles Schwab Challenge. He played with poise all week on a course that rewards precision and patience, and when the final putt dropped on Sunday, Ben had officially arrived. His ball-striking, short game, and composure were all on full display—and fans and fellow players took notice.

He followed that win with another strong showing at The Memorial Tournament, where he was in serious contention throughout the weekend at Muirfield Village, a course known for exposing weaknesses. Ben didn’t blink. He battled some of the biggest names in the game and showed the kind of all-around game that translates to major championships and team events.

Now, as the 2025 season rolls on, Ben Griffin is no longer just a feel-good comeback story—he’s a household name in the making and a legitimate Ryder Cup contender. With two wins and a growing reputation as one of the Tour’s steadiest performers, he’s earned the respect of fans, peers, and captains alike. Not bad for a guy who once walked away from the game completely. His journey has been anything but conventional, but it’s that very path that makes his rise so compelling.