FORT WORTH, Texas – On Sunday, Ben Griffin secured his first individual PGA Tour title at the Charles Schwab Challenge, held at the historic Colonial Country Club, outlasting Germany’s Matti Schmid by a single stroke in a dramatic final round. The 29-year-old American finished at 12-under-par 268, navigating blustery conditions and a challenging back nine to claim the $1.71 million winner’s purse, 500 FedEx Cup points, and a coveted 1992 Schwab Defender 110, a restored vintage vehicle that continues the tournament’s iconic tradition.
Griffin, who shared the 54-hole lead with Schmid at 13-under, started the final round with a bang, carding an eagle on the par-5 first hole with a 15-foot putt and a birdie on the second to surge to a three-shot lead. However, gusty winds reaching 30 mph and Colonial’s firm, small greens made the day a grind. Griffin’s final round of 1-over 71 included no additional birdies but featured critical par saves, notably on the 14th, 15th, and 18th holes. The decisive moment came on the 72nd hole, where Griffin’s second shot landed on the lip of a greenside bunker. After a delicate chip to four feet, he sank a clutch par putt to hold off Schmid, who chipped in for birdie from 28 feet to heighten the drama.
Schmid, seeking his first PGA Tour win, posted a 2-over 72, finishing at 11-under with a rollercoaster round of six birdies, six bogeys, and a double bogey. Bud Cauley took third at 10-under, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood tied for fourth at 9-under. Scheffler, hampered by a poor opening round, couldn’t mount a charge despite a strong 6-under 64 on Saturday.
Griffin’s victory, his second PGA Tour win of 2025 following a team triumph with Andrew Novak at the Zurich Classic in April, marked a career milestone. The University of North Carolina alum, who briefly left golf in 2021 to work as a mortgage loan officer, moved to a career-best 40th in the Official World Golf Ranking and 13th in the Ryder Cup standings. His win also earned exemptions to the 2026 Masters and The Open Championship.
The tournament, known for its “coolest tradition in golf,” saw Griffin and fiancée Dana Myeroff celebrate in the Schwab Defender, sipping champagne on the 18th green. Griffin’s emotional press conference reflected on his family’s sacrifices, including downsizing their home during tough financial times, which fueled his journey to this moment.
“My parents did so much for me growing up,” said Griffin. “They got hit hard by the recession, the 2008 recession. They invested a lot in me being able to practice and compete. I didn’t spend very much money on range balls. I was at a public golf course, and I would chip and putt all day.
“I would hit maybe a half bucket of balls for $5 or whatever it was, and my parents, they always considered themselves middle to upper middle class, but I knew there for a little bit when we lost our house, when we lost everything (chokes up)…
“I know they sacrificed a lot for me, and I credit a lot of my success down the stretch today to my short game. It kept me in it, and that’s what I did as a kid. That’s what helped my short game be so good down the stretch today.
“I didn’t mean for that answer to get that emotional (smiling).”
Griffin’s equipment, including Maxfli Tour X golf balls, played a key role in his steady performance, which included rounds of 66, 63, 68, and 71. His win etched his name alongside golf legends like Ben Hogan and Jordan Spieth on Colonial’s Wall of Champions, cementing his rise as a PGA Tour contender.
