Copyright Athlon Sports
Ben Griffin closed out his Sunday in style, shooting 9-under 63 in the final round of the World Wide Technology Championship to win his third PGA TOUR title of the year. The 29-year-old American finished at 29-under 259 at El Cardonal at Diamante, breaking the tournament’s 72-hole scoring record of 261 set by Erik van Rooyen (2023), Russell Henley (2022), and Viktor Hovland (2021). The victory puts Griffin in rare company. He joins Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as the only players to win three or more times this season. “After making a few birdies early, I kind of pushed myself a little bit harder than the past few weeks when I was in contention to kind of keep the pedal down,” Griffin said after his victory. “Fortunately, the putter heated up, made a lot of putts on the back nine. It was fun feeling the nerves down the stretch trying to hold things off.” The Back Nine Blitz That Sealed It Playing for just the second time since his Ryder Cup debut, Griffin turned what could have been a tense Sunday into a putting clinic. After a minor stumble with a three-putt bogey on the fifth hole, he unleashed five consecutive birdies starting at the eighth hole. That stretch would prove decisive. The most spectacular moment came on the par-3 11th, where Griffin drained a 40-foot bomb to tie for the lead. He followed that with a 25-footer on the 12th to grab his first outright lead, then added another 25-footer on the par-3 16th that effectively ended the competition. Griffin made birdie on all four par-3s during his final round, showing remarkable precision and confidence under pressure. His two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th provided the exclamation point on a two-shot victory over Chad Ramey and Sami Valimaki, who both posted admirable closing rounds but couldn’t match Griffin’s firepower. Challengers Falter When It Mattered Most While Griffin was flawless down the stretch, his primary challengers couldn’t maintain their momentum. Garrick Higgo, who shared the 54-hole lead, saw his chances evaporate on the 12th hole when his tee shot found a bush, forcing him to take an unplayable lie penalty. The resulting double bogey dropped him out of contention, and he ultimately finished three shots back with a 68. Carson Young also had his opportunities, making a 15-foot birdie on the 12th to tie Griffin at 27-under. But disaster struck immediately afterward when his approach on the 13th sailed left, across a cart path and into the native area. A bogey there, followed by a three-putt bogey on the 15th, ended his title hopes. He finished tied for sixth after shooting 68. Career-Best Ranking and Life-Changing Year Griffin’s victory propels him to a career-best No. 9 in the Official World Golf Ranking, up from No. 12 entering the week. With 12 top-10 finishes this season (including wins at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Charles Schwab Challenge), Griffin has established himself as one of the game’s most consistent performers. But perhaps the most telling quote came when Griffin reflected on his remarkable year: “Crazy, three wins and getting married in the same year, hard to beat.” He’s set to marry fiancée Dana Myeroff next month, adding a personal milestone to an already unforgettable season. FedExCup Fall Implications While Griffin’s season was already secure, Sunday’s results had massive implications for players fighting to retain their TOUR cards. Valimaki’s runner-up finish rocketed him from No. 103 to No. 76 in the FedExCup Fall standings, virtually guaranteeing full status for 2026. “These last three tournaments, only goal was to kind of keep the playing rights for the next year, so I think they should be a done deal with this finish,” Valimaki said with obvious relief. Ramey also made a significant leap, moving from No. 123 to No. 89, likely securing his card with two FedExCup Fall events remaining. Higgo, despite his Sunday stumble, moved to No. 52, locking up spots at Pebble Beach and Riviera early next season. As the sun set over Los Cabos, Griffin stood as champion. A World Wide Technology ambassador who delivered for his sponsor. A player who has arrived among golf’s best. And a man ready to celebrate both professional triumph and personal joy.
