FORT WORTH, Texas — On a gusty afternoon at Colonial, Ben Griffin remained poised under pressure, emerging victorious at the Charles Schwab Challenge with a nail-biting 1-over 71, clinching his maiden individual PGA Tour title with a 12-under 268 aggregate score. Griffin's win was hard-fought, holding off Germany's Matti Schmid by a single stroke as the duo navigated through challenging conditions.
Starting the final round tied with Schmid at the top, Griffin quickly built a five-shot lead through the first five holes, but it was far from a stroll. Both contenders battled not only each other but also the swirling winds that reached up to 30 mph at Hogan’s Alley.
Schmid, who was gunning for his first PGA Tour win in his 79th appearance, kept the fight alive until the last hole. With a phenomenal chip-in birdie from the thick rough, Schmid compelled Griffin to sink a critical 4-foot par putt under immense pressure.
Reflecting on the tense finish, Griffin remarked, “First of all, it was like whack-a-mole hitting that third shot. In my head, I was thinking Matti might probably make that. Fortunately, I had that 4-footer. I felt pretty good over it. Just left edge and trust it.”
The day wasn't just about Griffin and Schmid. The tournament featured hometown favorite and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who ended tied for fourth after starting the day six shots back. He couldn't replicate his earlier surge, finishing at 8-under, narrowly missing a top-three finish for the fourth consecutive year at Colonial.
Rickie Fowler and Tommy Fleetwood also highlighted the day. Fowler started off slow and saw his chances disappear with a bogey on the 11th, while Fleetwood, in contrast, dazzled early but couldn't sustain momentum, watching his birdie putt at the 18th lip the cup, completing a round of 68 for yet another top-10 finish.
Griffin had previously teamed up with Andrew Novak for a win at the Zurich Classic, but standing alone in victory this time was special. Despite hitting just four fairways and seven greens, Griffin's sheer determination saw him through a nail-biting day to remember.
In summary, Griffin’s strategic play and resilience on a taxing day paid dividends, turning his lead into a prized victory against formidable competition and challenging elements. With this breakthrough, he joins the ranks of tour winners with his first solo trophy in hand.
