AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Ben Griffin takes ten on iconic 18th
Ben Griffin’s first appearance in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was going great until a collapse on one of the most iconic finishing holes in golf turned what was a great round into a sudden nightmare.
It’s the kind of thing that every golfer is afraid of, you are having an excellent round and then, all of the sudden, it all comes crashing down around you on one hole.
That was the case for 26-year-old Ben Griffin during the opening round of this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Playing one of the most famous holes in the world, Ben took a 10 on Pebble Beach’s iconic Par 5, 18th.
Ben Griffin, who is playing his first full season on the PGA Tour, was three under for his round when he stepped onto the 18th tee. The famous finishing hole was playing under par on average on Thursday for the majority of the field who began their week at Pebble Beach.
The tee shot on the 18th is one of the most intimidating shots that players will face this week with the coastline stretching up the entire left side in play. Fearing the danger lurking to left, Griffin hit multiple tee shots out of bounds to the right.
Ben Griffin was left playing his 5th shot on the Par 5 from the tee box.
By the time he arrived at the 18th green, he was left putting for a double. Unfortunately, Griffin proceeded to three-put from there and walked away with a 10. The nightmare finish dropped him from -3 to two over par for his round.
Griffin has had a great start to his rookie season on the PGA Tour. He has made the cut in each start since the season-opening Fortinet Championship in September. Griffin has compiled four top-25 finishes in ten starts; including a 3rd place finish at last fall’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
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That run of consecutive made cuts on Tour could be in danger this week and Ben will need to quickly put the disaster on 18 behind him, especially with a round at Spyglass Hill to come on Friday, a locale that played by far and away the most difficult on Thursday.