A Huge Win in Texas
On May 25, 2025, Ben Griffin, a 29-year-old golfer from North Carolina, won the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. It was his first big PGA Tour win by himself, and he took home $1.71 million plus 500 points for the FedExCup. Ben finished at 12-under par, just one shot ahead of Germany’s Matti Schmid. The final day was tough with strong winds, but Ben made some great shots to pull off the victory.
From Office Job to Golf Star
Ben’s story is pretty amazing. A few years back, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he gave up golf and worked at a desk job as a loan officer because he was struggling and had some debt. But he loved golf too much to stay away, so he returned in 2021 and earned his PGA Tour spot in 2022. Just last month, he won a team event, the Zurich Classic, with his buddy Andrew Novak. Some folks said that didn’t count as a “real” win, so Ben used that to push himself harder. “I turned those comments into motivation,” he said after the win.
A Strong Start, Then a Fight
Ben started the final day tied with Schmid at 13-under. He came out hot, scoring an eagle on the first hole with a long drive and a great second shot, then adding a birdie on the second hole. That gave him a nice lead. But the wind made things hard later on, and he had four bogeys, including two toward the end. Still, he stayed calm, making key putts on the 14th and 15th holes from 12 and 8 feet to keep his score steady.
A Close Call at the End
The last hole was super exciting. On the 18th, Ben’s second shot landed in a tough spot near a bunker, so he had to chip carefully. He got the ball to 4 feet from the hole. Meanwhile, Schmid, who was one shot behind, chipped in for a birdie from the rough, making things really close. Ben didn’t panic and made his 4-foot putt to win the tournament and avoid a playoff. “No lead feels safe out here,” he said, happy he stayed focused.
Other Golfers in the Race
Bud Cauley came in third at 9-under, while Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, and Tommy Fleetwood tied for fourth at 8-under. Scheffler said a slow start on Friday held him back, but he still played well. Fleetwood had a fun moment when his birdie putt on the 18th hung on the edge for 30 seconds before dropping in. Rickie Fowler, who started the day four shots back, fell to a tie for 16th after a rough start.
A Big Deal at Colonial
Winning at Colonial is special. The tournament, which began in 1946, is one of the PGA Tour’s top events with a smaller group of about 132 players. Its Wall of Champions has big names like Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus, so Ben was thrilled to join them. Plus, the win earned him a spot in the next Masters tournament. “This feels like a dream,” he said, thinking about how far he’s come.
What’s Next for Ben
This was Ben’s second PGA Tour win of 2025, putting him in a small group with stars like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who also have multiple wins this year. The victory moved him to 24th in the world rankings—his best ever—and fifth in the FedExCup race. With his Mizuno clubs, Maxfli ball, and Scotty Cameron putter, Ben’s ready for more. Fans can’t wait to see him at the Memorial Tournament next.
