That 4-Over Finish Couldn't Stop Ben Griffin Last Year, and He's Back for More at Colonial

Alright, golf fans, get ready because Ben Griffin is back on the course at Colonial Country Club this week, and he's not just showing up, he's here to defend his title! You remember last year, right? Colonial was the spot where Griffin snagged his first ever solo win on the PGA Tour. That victory wasn't just huge for his trophy case, it launched him straight into the world's top 10 rankings and locked up his spot on the United States' Ryder Cup team. Massive stuff! Now, he's ready to tackle that beast of a course all over again in the Charles Schwab Challenge, kicking off Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Colonial Is a Savage Course, and Griffin Loves It

This isn't some walk in the park course, folks, and Griffin absolutely thrives on that. He's called Colonial one of the best courses on tour because it seriously rewards players who get aggressive, but it'll punish you hard if you're even a little bit off your game. Think about it: last year, he went four over par in his final sixteen holes and *still* won! That tells you everything you need to know about the kind of grind this course demands. He’s talking about doglegs where you can absolutely smash the driver, or pins tucked in corners that are just begging for an aggressive attack, especially when the course is soft. And speaking of soft, with all the wet weather Texas has been getting, it's looking like Colonial is going to play just that way. That means guys can probably get a bit more aggressive, knowing the ball won't run out as much on those fairways. But don't expect crazy low scores like you saw at TPC Craig Ranch. Griffin says this course won't see anyone hitting 30 under par, not with those sloped fairways that get tricky when firm, and how it challenges every part of your game. It’s a true test, period.

The Field Is Stacked, But So Are the Stakes

Even with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth taking the week off after playing the Byron Nelson, this field is still seriously loaded. We're talking seven of the world's top 20 players are here to try and snatch that Tartan Jacket. Ludvig Aberg from Sweden is in, Hideki Matsuyama from Japan, reigning U.S. Open champ J.J. Spaun, and fan favorite Justin Thomas is here too, seeing the course for the first time since its restoration three years ago. Plus, this isn't just another tournament, it's the last chance for players to qualify for the upcoming Memorial Tournament, a signature event, via the Aon Swing 5 pathway. Talk about pressure! And with the U.S. Open, the third major of the year, just three weeks away, guys like Alex Smalley are looking to keep their momentum going. Smalley, who tied for second at the PGA Championship recently, is feeling good, saying his game has been "really solid" and he's getting more comfortable playing around the lead. So, who's going to step up and challenge Griffin's reign? We're about to find out!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.