{"id":382414,"date":"2025-08-29T12:24:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T12:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/382414\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T12:24:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T12:24:16","slug":"i-was-a-mortgage-loan-officer-and-nearly-quit-golf-four-years-ago-now-im-on-ryder-cup-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/382414\/","title":{"rendered":"I was a mortgage loan officer and nearly quit golf four years ago, now I’m on Ryder Cup team"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last time the Ryder Cup was held in the USA, Ben Griffin was working an office job.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But now, four years on, he will be playing in the iconic event<\/a> instead. <\/p>\n

\"Team<\/a><\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

Team USA’s Griffin has gone from mortgage loan officer to the Ryder CupCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Griffin has enjoyed an real breakout year on the PGA Tour<\/a> in 2025, picking up his first-ever career wins.<\/p>\n

He won the Zurich Classic alongside Andrew Novak in April before claiming his maiden individual title in May.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old was victorious at the Charles Schwab Challenge<\/a>, beating Matti Schmid by one shot. <\/p>\n

On top of his wins, Griffin totted up a whopping ten top-10 finishes on Tour, which was the joint-second most for an American player.<\/p>\n

Only World No.1 Scottie Scheffler<\/a> had more. <\/p>\n

And it led to Keegan Bradley picking him to join Team USA<\/a> for the Ryder Cup<\/a> at Bethpage which starts on September 26.<\/p>\n

But this path may not have opened up for Griffin if he had not returned to golf after he found himself on the brink of quitting. <\/p>\n

The North Carolina-born star was working as a mortgage loan officer<\/a> in 2021 as he admitted he was falling out of love with golf.<\/p>\n

However, he refound that passion<\/a> and now he’s at the top of his game, posting on X after the US Ryder Cup team annoucment: “Four years ago, I wanted to give up the game forever. <\/p>\n

“I have the strongest team around me that brought me back, and now I\u2019m going to give it all to help this team win at Bethpage.”<\/p>\n

\"Griffin<\/a><\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

Griffin referenced his tough time in golf when posting about his Ryder Cup call-upCredit: Getty’I didn’t have love for the game’<\/p>\n

Griffin found himself working at a desk as a mortgage loan officer after his golf career hit a standstill. <\/p>\n

He had lost his Korn Ferry Tour status and missed Q-School in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. <\/p>\n

On that time of his life, he admitted to the PGA Tour<\/a>: \u201cI was so burnt out at golf. I didn\u2019t have the love for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opting to take a break, Griffin became a licensed mortgage loan officer in his home town Chapel Hill in North Carolina and he began looking to build a career in that field. <\/p>\n

His swing coach, James Oh, said at the time: “I knew that with how good of a player he was, he just needed to really get away from it to want to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

And eventually he did, with Griffin thriving again on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 and earned his PGA Tour card in the same year.<\/p>\n

\"Griffin<\/a><\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

Griffin worked as a mortgage loan officer as he took a break from golfCredit: Getty\"But<\/a><\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

But instead of quitting, he returned and has gone on to have a breakout year in 2025Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

\u201cI had never had significant time away from the game like that,\u201d Griffin told the PGA Tour three years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving that reset, it\u2019s so valuable, way more valuable than I had ever imagined. Regardless of what you do in life, it\u2019s important to step back and take a breath. People always say, \u2018Get your mind off it. Breathe.\u2019 <\/p>\n

“Golf is what I needed to be playing all along.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since his return, he has built up to his best ever form and now, in 2025, he’s one of the best players on the planet. <\/p>\n

Griffin is the current World No.17 and he’s earned almost $10million in prize money just this season, finishing T10 in the Tour Championship<\/a> to wrap things up with a big payout.<\/p>\n

And next up for him is the Ryder Cup at Bethpage, as he makes his debut appearance against Team Europe for Team USA. <\/p>\n

Ryder Cup: Team USA confirmed line-up<\/p>\n

Automatic qualifiers<\/strong><\/p>\n