Ben Griffin joined exclusive company by winning the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico.
It was Griffin’s third PGA Tour title of the season. Scottie Scheffler (six wins) and Rory McIlroy (three) are the only other players with at least three victories this year. But unlike those major champions, Griffin had never won before this year.
His first Tour win came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event with Andrew Novak, followed by a victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
“I kind of had a feeling after getting the first win, I felt like I was going to win at least another soon after, and sure enough I did,” Griffin said. “I feel like I’ve just had so many positive experiences coming down the stretch winning, and then I’ve had enough experiences where it’s gone the other way to where I’ve learned a lot. I felt really pretty confident and composed down the stretch here.
“But yeah, anytime I can be on a list with those two names, it means I’m doing something pretty good. It was helpful both of those guys weren’t in the field this week.”
Strong From Start to Finish
Griffin posted rounds of 65-65-66-63 over the El Cardonal at Diamante course for a 29-under-par 259 total and a two-shot victory over Chad Ramey and Sami Valimaki. Griffin earned $1.08 million and moved from 12th to ninth in the world golf rankings. Scheffler and McIlroy are 1-2.
Asked to describe his season, the 29-year-old said, “Breakthrough is the easiest word to use. I’ve had a lot of buildup going into this year of some good moments, but hadn’t quite broken through and won, and so this year was able to not only do that but win multiple times, and then make the Ryder Cup team and then win again here. It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of belief.”
Griffin began the final day in a three-way tie for third, two shots behind leader Garrick Higgo. Griffin birdied three of his first four holes, bogeyed the fifth with a three-putt, then made five straight birdies starting on the eighth hole. He sank a 40-foot putt on the par-3 11th to tie the lead and then a 25-foot birdie putt on the 12th to momentarily take the lead. Birdies at the 16th and 18th secured the victory.
“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,” Griffin said. “I was really proud of the way I kept the pedal down, and was able to make a lot of putts there in the middle stretch, and capped it off with birdies on 16 and 18 to seal the deal. It was all in all a great day.”
Miscues Hurt Higgo and Young
Griffin’s biggest challengers were Higgo and Carson Young, who shared the lead going to the back nine on. Higgo fell back with a tee shot into a bush on No. 12 that required him to take a penalty for an unplayable lie, leading to a double bogey. He shot 68 and finished three behind in a tie for fourth.
Young made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 12th and was tied with Griffin at 27 under. But his approach on the 13th went left down a slope, across a cart path and into the native area. He made bogey, then hit a so-so pitch on the par-5 14th that kept him from making birdie and then three-putted for bogey on the 15th. He shot 68 and tied for sixth.
FedEx Cup Updates
Two tournaments remain in the fall schedule and the top 100 in the standings have full status for 2026. Nos. 101-150 will have conditional Tour status.
In tying for second, Valimaki, who shot 64, and Ramey, who closed with a 65, made big jumps in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. Valimaki, of Finland, started the week at No. 103 and moved to No. 76, assuring his Tour card for next year. Ramey went from No. 123 to No. 89 and is likely safe to keep his card.
Higgo moved to No. 52 in the FedEx Cup, which locks up a spot for him to play Pebble Beach and Riviera early next season, both $20 million signature events. He has finished no worse than a tie for seventh in his four starts during the FedEx Cup Fall.
The Tour heads next to Port Royal Golf Course for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Rafael Campos is the defending champion.
