Ben Griffin is an American golfer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, ranked 14th in the world, who has emerged as one of the fastest-rising players on the PGA Tour. His ascent through the professional ranks has been steep and steady, built on a game that is long off the tee and increasingly polished around the greens.
Griffin played college golf at the University of North Carolina, where he developed the competitive temperament that now defines his professional career. After turning professional, he climbed through the Korn Ferry Tour before earning his PGA Tour card and making an immediate impact. His breakthrough PGA Tour victory confirmed what those tracking his development already knew: Griffin has the combination of power, short game touch, and nerve that translates to winning at the highest level. He generates significant clubhead speed, giving him a distance advantage that allows him to attack par-5s in two and shorten par-4s with mid-irons into greens.
What makes Griffin dangerous in major championship golf is his mentality. He does not play cautiously on big stages. His aggressive style favors courses that reward bold play, and he has shown the ability to go low when conditions allow. His ball-striking numbers have improved consistently season over season, suggesting a player still finding the ceiling of his talent rather than one who has already reached it. At 28, he sits in the window where major championship breakthroughs tend to happen, old enough to have accumulated the experience but young enough to trust his body and his instincts without hesitation.
In 2026, Griffin will compete at all four majors across venues that test different dimensions of the game. Augusta National rewards the kind of length and creativity he brings. Aronimink will demand precision with irons into small greens. Shinnecock Hills punishes wayward driving but rewards players who can scramble. Royal Birkdale will be his first Open Championship test on a classic links. He will compete at all four: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Fans in the United States can follow in United States time.