Nina Caldwell
Ben Griffin is an American professional golfer born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on May 6, 1996. The 6'1 golfer attended East Chapel Hill High School, where he won two North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 4A individual state championships. He turned pro in 2018, joining the PGA Tour Canada and winning the Staal Foundation Open that same year. After a brief hiatus from golf in 2021, Griffin returned to the sport with improved performance and has since risen to become one of the leaders in wins for the season. With his career-best season, Griffin has gained widespread attention, and all eyes are now on the rising star as he sets his sights on future victories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Benjamin Griffin |
| Date of Birth | 6th May 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA |
| Height | 6'1" (1.85m) |
| Education | University of North Carolina |
| Profession | Golfer |
| Turned Pro | 2018 |
| Notable Achievements | Winner of the 2018 Staal Foundation Open, Runner-up at the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour (3 events), Joined the PGA Tour in 2023 |
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Ben Griffin is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Ben Griffin is a professional golfer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. He was born on May 6, 1996, and attended East Chapel Hill High School, where he excelled at golf, winning two North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 4A individual state championships. Following his success in high school, Griffin continued to play golf at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2014 to 2018, winning three tournaments and being named a two-time honorable mention All-America.
After graduating from college in 2018, Griffin turned professional and began playing on the PGA Tour Canada. That same year, he won the Staal Foundation Open. Griffin's career has had its ups and downs. In 2019, he played on the PGA Tour Canada and Korn Ferry Tour but with limited success. The following year, he competed on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica and LocaliQ Series due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Griffin faced challenges in 2021, stepping away from golf to work as a mortgage loan officer. However, his passion for the sport remained strong, and he made a comeback to the game. Griffin joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 and finished as a runner-up in three events: the Astara Golf Championship, LECOM Suncoast Classic, and BMW Charity Pro-Am. He continued his impressive run in 2023, placing second at the Sanderson Farms Championship, and in 2024, he was the runner-up at the RBC Canadian Open.
Griffin's great-grandfather, Ben Shields, was a Major League Baseball pitcher for renowned teams such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies in the 1920s and 1930s. Griffin has also dealt with symptomatic eye floaters, which is why he often wears sunglasses during his games. His resilience, ambition, and unwavering determination have been highlighted as he sets his sights on future victories against the biggest names in golf.
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Griffin's golfing journey
Benjamin Griffin, born on May 6, 1996, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, is an American professional golfer. He attended East Chapel Hill High School, where he showcased his talent by winning two North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 4A individual state championships.
Griffin faced setbacks in 2021, stepping away from golf to work as a loan officer for a mortgage group in North Carolina. However, his passion for the sport remained strong, and he made a comeback in 2022, joining the Korn Ferry Tour. He showcased his resilience and talent by finishing as a runner-up in three prestigious events: the Astara Golf Championship, LECOM Suncoast Classic, and BMW Charity Pro-Am. This impressive performance earned him his PGA Tour card for 2023.
Griffin continued his winning streak on the PGA Tour, achieving two runner-up finishes in 2023 at the Sanderson Farms Championship and in 2024 at the RBC Canadian Open. He then claimed his first PGA Tour victory in 2025 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, partnering with Andrew Novak. Griffin's success story continued as he swiftly followed up with another victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge in May 2025, solidifying his position as a rising star in the golfing world.
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Career highlights
Ben Griffin, the American professional golfer, has had a remarkable journey in his young career. Born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Griffin's golfing prowess was evident from his high school days, where he won two North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 4A individual state championships. He continued his winning streak at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, claiming three tournament victories and being named a two-time honorable mention All-America.
Griffin turned professional in 2018, joining the PGA Tour Canada and winning the Staal Foundation Open in his rookie year. However, the following years presented challenges, with limited success on the PGA Tour Canada and Korn Ferry Tour in 2019. He persevered and played on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica and LocaliQ Series in 2020, adapting to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Griffin's career took an unexpected turn in 2021 when he stepped away from golf to work as a loan officer for a mortgage group in his home state of North Carolina. It seemed that his golfing ambitions might be on hold indefinitely. However, a month away from the sport proved to be a mere hiatus, as he received an invitation to return to the course.
Griffin's comeback began in 2022, and he quickly found his stride. He finished as a runner-up in three events of the Korn Ferry Tour, showcasing his resilience and determination. This strong performance earned him a spot on the PGA Tour in 2023, where he continued to impress with an average driving distance of 294.2 yards. Griffin's results have made him one of the leaders in wins for the season, and he is now a golfer to watch, with fans eagerly anticipating his next moves. Career-best performances are expected of him in the future.
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His great-grandfather, Ben Shields, played Major League Baseball
Ben Griffin is a professional golfer from Fayetteville, Georgia, United States. He was born on November 21, 1998, and began playing golf at a young age. Griffin showed early promise in the sport, and his talent ran in the family: his great-grandfather, Ben Shields, was a professional baseball player.
Shields was a left-handed pitcher who played Major League Baseball for 12 seasons, from 1924 to 1935. He made his debut with the Detroit Tigers but spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox, for whom he played from 1924 to 1930. Shields was a reliable and consistent pitcher, known for his strong work ethic and ability to throw a variety of pitches with precision. Over his career, he accumulated an impressive 115 wins and 125 losses, with a lifetime earned run average of 4.49.
One of Shields' most notable achievements was his contribution to the Red Sox's victory in the 1928 pennant race. That season, he led the league in games started and completed, pitching an impressive 28 complete games out of the 35 he started. He also had a notable performance in the 1929 season, where he led the league in shutouts with four and achieved a career-best earned run average of 3.14.
Ben Shields played his final season with the Boston Braves in 1935, bringing his impressive baseball career to a close. His legacy lives on not just through his great-grandson Ben Griffin but also through his induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1976, ensuring his name and achievements remain remembered and celebrated. Shields' baseball career is an inspiring chapter in the story of Ben Griffin's golfing career, demonstrating a family legacy of sporting excellence.
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Griffin's eye condition
Ben Griffin is a professional golfer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. He turned pro in 2018 and has been steadily climbing the ranks since. However, Griffin has also been dealing with a concerning eye condition that has impacted his career.
In 2024, Griffin revealed that he was suffering from an eye injury that required laser treatment. He shared that he had lattice degeneration, which caused a thinning of his retina and resulted in holes in his retina. Griffin had four holes in his left eye and one in his right, putting him at risk of retinal detachment. He underwent laser surgery to repair the holes and prevent vision loss.
Despite the surgery, Griffin continues to experience eye floaters, which are spots in his vision. To manage this condition, he started wearing sunglasses while playing golf, specifically a brand called Uswing Mojing. He shared that the sunglasses make it darker, reducing the visibility of the floaters, especially in bright conditions. Griffin expressed his surprise that more golfers don't wear sunglasses, given the benefits he has experienced with green reading and seeing slopes.
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Frequently asked questions
Ben Griffin is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Ben Griffin attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ben Griffin turned professional in 2018 after graduating from North Carolina and began playing on the PGA Tour Canada.
