Q. Nice round.
BEN GRIFFIN: Thank you.
Q. So looks like you have a lot to play for. Right on the cusp up of that 51 to 60 number. You get to Riviera, Pebble Beach. How do you allow yourself to think about that? How much does that shape how you schedule your fall?
BEN GRIFFIN: It's a lot better than being 120 to 130 right now. Let's put it that way. I feel like I'm pretty freed up. Just trying to chase down a win this fall.
More importantly than those two events I feel like for me, I have three seconds on TOUR, so getting a win and more job security for a few years would be nicer.
Just trying to win. I will see where the cards fall for that 51 to 60, but in my mind I'm just trying to take each week at time and try to chase the leaders down or hopefully just stay in the lead.
Q. On that note, the win, it seems like you've pretty much proved you are capable and deserving of being out here and playing with the big boys. Is it just a matter of putting yourself in contention in the smoke as Lee Trevino used to say on Sunday and just giving yourself the benefit of the odds, getting there enough times?
BEN GRIFFIN: Absolutely. Yeah, giving yourself enough chances is really important. I think you look at a lot of guys, a lot of even some of the most successful golfers of all time, some of them may even have started off their careers with a bunch of top finishes but it took a while to break through.
I talked to Rickie Fowler last year when I had finished second in one of the fall events. He's like, dude, it took me three, four years to get my first win even though I'm only 35 and it seems like I've been on TOUR forever.
It's just the way it goes. I feel like you give yourself enough chances you get more and more comfortable. You learn from your experiences when you finish second, at least I have.
I feel like for me, for me I need to keep putting myself in those positions, playing in as many events as I can to give myself more and more chances to win.
Q. Was the biggest learning experience from the playoff loss at Sanderson? I think that was the one where you were ahead and didn't play well on the last day. Or was there another tournament you learned more or just as much from?
BEN GRIFFIN: Yeah, I finished second being in the lead with a few holes to go. I've finished second being in the mix with nine to go. I've finished second where I wasn't in the mix and made a chase down the stretch to try to give myself a chance back this summer at the Canadian Open against Robert McIntyre.
I feel like I put myself in just about every position possible around the lead, and it's just a matter of holding it off.
There are different mindsets when you are coming down the stretch when you're coming in from behind versus being ahead. My most recent second I was coming from behind and I think that's helped me a ton from a confidence standpoint of, okay, maybe next time I'm in the lead with a few holes to go let's keep the pedal down and not play too defensive golf.
Out here so many guys are good, and I feel like a lot of events on TOUR there are some par-5s on the last couple holes where things can change quick. I just got to keep the pedal down all 72 holes. You can't just pretend like the trophy is just going to be there for you when you have five holes to go and you have a two- or three-shot lead. You got to keep the pedal down.
For me it's just a matter of making a ton of birdies and keep building confidence.
Q. Your last victory as on Korn Ferry Tour?
BEN GRIFFIN: I didn't win on Korn Ferry. Had three seconds on the Korn Ferry as well actually. Canadian Tour I won back in 2018. Yeah, it's been a while at the PGA TOUR level.
Q. You had 37 starts last season. Hubbard gets all the acclaim for having 39. Do you feel a little bit snubbed?
BEN GRIFFIN: I know, right? I feel like I should be able to chase him. Maybe he's qualified for more events for me. It's a bummer. I think this is number 30 for me, and I am going to get to like 35 or 36 this year. It's tough, but someone has to be that guys, and he just keeps the pedal down more than I do.
Q. Must love golf.
BEN GRIFFIN: I feel like I only took one week off this year where I had the choice. I feel like I did a pretty good job. Maybe I took two. I can't remember.
Q. Iron Man.
BEN GRIFFIN: Iron Man.
Q. Do all those starts start to weigh on you after a while? Are you okay with playing that...
BEN GRIFFIN: I love it. For a lot of the guys out here they can't do it for some reason. For me, I feel like if I go home I'm going to touch my clubs on Wednesday or Thursday anyway if I fly home on a Sunday night or Monday morning, so why wouldn't I touch a club when I have a chance to make money, FedExCup points, world ranking points, everything.
I don't mind the travel. I don't have any kids. It's just my fiance Dana over there and we just kind of go with the flow. She works remotely and it works out well for both of us.
Q. Have you played Pebble and Riviera?
BEN GRIFFIN: Yeah, I played them last year and the year before I played Pebble, but not Riviera.
Q. You like those places?
BEN GRIFFIN: I do. I like Riviera a lot even though it's poana greens, which I tend to struggle on. I like the layout of the course a lot.
I think Pebble, at least for me in my shoes I should be in Pebble regardless because it feels like 78 and it's locked at 78. Riviera I've got to be 51 to 60. Really like I'm playing for one event this fall. But, yeah.
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