Ben Griffin’s professional career hasn't always gone to plan since he left the amateur game behind in 2018.
After having limited success in his early years, he stepped away from the game completely for a time in 2021 to work as a loan officer for a mortgage group in his native North Carolina. However, after returning to the game, he earned his Korn Ferry Tour card in 2022.
By the time he finished eighth on the circuit’s Points List to claim a PGA Tour card for the 2023 season, his caddie was Alex Ritthamel.
He certainly chose a bagman with the necessary experience to navigate his first steps onto the bigger stage. After all, he had regularly been seen caddying on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour since 2010, working for the likes of Matt Jones, Tommy Gainey, Andrew Landry and CT Pan.
As well as vast experience, if Griffin was ever looking for a caddie dedicated to the job, he would later discover he didn't need to look any further.
Before the 2024 Genesis Invitational, Griffin, who was in the field for the tournament at Riviera Country Club, had a problem - his clubs hadn’t arrived following his appearance at the WM Phoenix Open the previous week.
Undeterred, Ritthamel and a couple of his friends drove all the way back to Phoenix to pick up the clubs from the airport and then drive back in time for Griffin’s Tuesday practice - a 12-hour round trip.
While Ritthamel’s commitment to the cause is admirable, there’s no doubt he has played a big role in Griffin establishing himself on the PGA Tour too. While he awaited his first win as the year turned to 2025, he could surely be satisfied with more cuts made than missed, five top-10 finishes and a couple of runner ups - and all with Ritthamel’s help.
