After eight years as a pro and a career resurrection, Ben Griffin makes his Masters debut with belief and clarity about what’s possible.
When Ben Griffin stepped onto the grounds of Augusta National for the first time, the weight of history was impossible to ignore. The 29-year-old American, making his Masters debut this week, finds himself in a position he once thought might not happen. Yet here he stands, clear-eyed and confident, ready to test himself against the game’s greatest stage.
“This is like the pinnacle of professional golf, so much history,” Griffin reflected during practice rounds at Augusta. “It’s the one that I think everyone wants to win. When I stepped on property for the first time, certainly it’s very green. Nothing really compares to some of the mounding and some of the green complexes that are here at Augusta. Yeah, it’s very special, very special place.”
From Chapel Hill Dreams to Augusta Reality
Griffin’s path to this moment spans eight years as a professional golfer, marked by perseverance through setbacks that would have deterred most. Raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he learned the game at UNC Finley Golf Club, a public course that shaped his approach to the sport. While the contrast between his humble training grounds and Augusta’s pristine grounds is stark, Griffin embraces both with equal appreciation.
“I grew up playing at Finley from when I was 12 onwards,” he explained, with characteristic humor about the differences. “Those were my stomping grounds. It was a really cool place to learn the game.” When asked about Augusta, North Carolina as preparation, he lightheartedly suggested the similar name was about the only resemblance.
The Masters has lived in Griffin’s imagination since childhood. “Everyone out here talks about being like a kid and talking about that putt that you have on your practice green at home, trying to win the Masters, and all of that’s real,” he said. “Even when I’m out here in practice rounds, I’m like thinking about it. I just put on Instagram a picture of me wearing a Masters shirt when I was about three years old running around the house.”
A Long Journey Interrupted, Then Resumed
Griffin’s career narrative includes chapters many would prefer to forget. After turning professional, he competed on the Canadian Tour and earned conditional status on what was then the Corn Ferry Tour. When he failed to make the most of his opportunities, he fell off the professional circuit. The COVID-19 pandemic compounded his struggles, and after years of grinding across multiple tours, Griffin made a difficult decision.
“I decided I wanted to stop playing professional golf,” he recalled candidly. “The Corn Ferry Tour qualifying got pushed back another year. It didn’t make sense to play professional golf in my view.” Griffin pivoted to work in his father’s real estate business, even obtaining his mortgage license to work as a loan officer.
The turning point came when Doug Sick believed in him enough to sponsor his return. “He came to the rescue in terms of my golf dreams,” Griffin acknowledged. “He wanted to sponsor me for a couple of years and pay my expenses. So I decided to come back to golf.” Now in his fourth season on the PGA Tour, Griffin has earned his first Masters invitation on the strength of his breakthrough 2025 season, which included a victory at the Zur Classic.
Playing Free and Believing in Possibility
What sets Griffin apart in his rookie Masters campaign is his mental approach. Having battled back from professional obscurity, he arrives at Augusta without the burden of expectation that often weighs on younger players. His experience against the field—many of whom he’s competed against throughout his PGA Tour journey—provides additional comfort.
“I’m familiar with everyone I’m playing against,” Griffin noted. “And so I feel like I’m more comfortable than a normal rookie might be at the Masters.” More importantly, he’s cognizant of the difference between outcomes and process. “It’s easy to say that success is winning, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be,” he explained. “I mean, the goal is to tee it up and to win every single week. You don’t need to put any sort of unnecessary stress on yourself when you’re playing golf.”
Yet Griffin refuses to shy away from the possibility of winning. “I’ve always had a lot of belief, and I’ve always had a lot of confidence,” he said. “Believe that I’m ready for every single big moment. Believe that I can play in the Masters, believe that I can win the Masters.” His caveat is practical: his game must physically be in position to give him a chance. But the belief is genuine.
For this week, Griffin’s definition of success extends beyond the scoreboard. “It could be a successful week if I enjoy myself a lot, have a lot of fun, soak in every experience,” he reflected. “I’m excited to share these experiences with family and friends that are all coming in, and be able to soak in a lot of history.” After the long journey—from a kid in Chapel Hill dreaming of the Masters, through years of grinding, to his near-retirement and comeback—Griffin has earned the right to savor every moment.
This article was created with the help of AI and editorially reviewed. Report an issue