Ben Griffin is one of a number of PGA Tour stars looking to make their Ryder Cup debuts at Bethpage Black, and the American believes he has what it takes to take on Team Europe
Ben Griffin is hoping to make the Ryder Cup(Image: Getty Images)
Ben Griffin has hopes of being able to take down Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy if he is to play his way into the United States Ryder Cup team.
Team USA is on the hunt for redemption at Bethpage Black, after losing out to their European rivals in Rome two years ago. This time it will be a new look American side, with a whole host of players in with a chance of making their debut in New York.
One of those is Griffin, who has enjoyed plenty of success this year. Griffin has won twice this season at the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, pairing with Andrew Novak in the latter.
His next big aim will be earning a spot in Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup team, and he is looking to build some momentum down the stretch of the PGA Tour season to do just that. “It would be an honor to be on that team,” he told reporters at the Wyndham Championship.
“It’s something I think everyone who’s around that’s American, at least, and in the mix of being in the Ryder Cup, everyone dreamed of it as a kid… I want to make sure my game, like I can’t just sit here and hope to get on that team.
“I need to continue to play really good golf because even if I were to not play well and still be on the team, I want to be playing really well when I’m at the Ryder Cup. So I’ve got to continue to do the right things right now and build this next month and a half stretch leading into Bethpage.
Ben Griffin has no interest in merely taking part in the Ryder Cup; he wants to be a ‘𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er’ who puts points on the board(Image: Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
“Where I’m playing really elite golf and I can beat Rory McIlroy and I can beat Jon Rahm, and Tyrrell Hatton. Like I want to have that mindset when I get there, and I don’t want to just sit here on a boat and just relax, I think cruise into Bethpage. I’ve got to keep the pedal down without a doubt.”
“I’m excited to tee it up each and every day and challenge myself and try to make birdies on the hardest holes out there. That’s all I can do.” This is not the first time Griffin has discussed a possible Ryder Cup debut and the chance to take down a player like McIlroy.
Speaking to Mirror U.S. Sports after his win at Colonial this year, he said: “I don’t want to be on a Ryder Cup team just to be on a Ryder Cup team. I want to be on the Ryder Cup team because I want to be a stone-cold 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er who’s trying to beat the European team and win points.
“If I’m not thinking that way, I don’t want to be on that team. Let’s say I’m 15th in the standings and Keegan thinks I should be on that team. I don’t want to be on that team unless I believe that I’m going to win points and beat their best player, beat Roy McIlroy if I’m in a singles match with him.”
