1 month agoAfter back-to-back T4 finishes, Ben Griffin has struggled to keep the momentum going, finishing T45 at the API and missing the cut at The Players. Ball striking is the culprit to his struggles, as the 28-year-old has averaged -0.65 in strokes gained on approach and -0.46 in strokes gained off the tee over his last two starts. While those aren't the largest deficits to reverse, they're certainly concerning coming to a venue that places such a premium on shot placement. In two career starts, the short game and putting have been his saving grace, and it looks to call for that again this time. At $9,700, the game isn't showing enough signs of life to deem him more than a flyer pick this week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 months agoBen Griffin has sniffed victory in back-to-back starts with two consecutive fourth-place finishes at the Cognizant Classic and the Mexico Open. He now looks ahead to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he has competed just once, finishing T13 in 2023. To succeed at Bay Hill, players will need to be sharp off the tee and excel with long irons, especially given the forecasted 20-plus-mph winds this weekend. These are areas where Griffin has excelled, ranking 34th in total driving and 58th in strokes gained per round on approach. He also ranks in the 78th percentile for proximity from 200-plus yards, a distance that accounts for 31.7% of all approach shots at this course. Additionally, he is eighth on tour in proximity from 175-200 yards, which makes up 17.4% of all approach shots. Given his recent form and ability to hit these key stats, Griffin is worth strong consideration by fantasy managers at his price tag of $7,600 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
2 months agoAfter a few events of frustratingly poor results with positive metrics, Ben Griffin put everything together for a solid T4 finish in Mexico last week. Ranking third in the field in strokes gained on approach (+1.48), and inside the top 20 for strokes gained around the green (+0.64) and putting (+0.79). The former UNC golfer ranks better with the longer irons in his bag, so it will be interesting to see how his game changes back to a shorter course with much less room for error. The work on the greens is by-far the worst metric this season for the 28-year-old, ranking 114th in strokes gained putting (-0.149). It was luckily much improved last week at Vidanta Vallarta, and being on similar feel for the next several weeks will hopefully mean big things for Griffin if the ball striking form remains.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 months agoBen Griffin has had a rollercoaster start to the year with finishes of T69, a missed cut, T7, and T45. He now turns his attention to the WM Phoenix Open, an event he has played in once, finishing T28 in 2024. This course rewards strong drivers of the golf ball, an area where Griffin has been solid. He ranks 30th in total driving, 65th in driving distance, and 67th in driving accuracy, all above field average. However, his approach numbers are concerning -- he ranks 137th in strokes gained on approach and has lost 3.917 strokes to the field. On a positive note, Griffin excels around the greens, ranking 33rd in strokes gained around the green. Still, his inconsistency with approach shots makes his $7,300 DraftKings price tag a bit risky despite his strong driving and short games.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
RADIO
