Late Drama on 18th Hole Decides First Individual PGA Tour Title

FORT WORTH, Texas — Ben Griffin knew that even a five-shot lead after just five holes wouldn’t guarantee anything at Colonial Country Club, and Matti Schmid made sure to prove that point in Sunday’s final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Griffin ultimately claimed his first individual PGA Tour victory after shooting 1-over 71 to finish at 12-under 268, one shot ahead of Schmid in challenging conditions that featured wind gusts around 30 mph at Hogan’s Alley.

The victory was secured only after Schmid’s remarkable chip shot from deep rough behind the 18th green found the bottom of the cup for birdie, forcing Griffin to make a crucial 4-foot par putt to close out the win.

“First of all, it was like whack-a-mole hitting that third shot,” Griffin said of his approach from an awkward lie in the rough, standing in a bunker with the ball well above his feet. “In my head, I was thinking Matti might probably make that. Fortunately, I had that 4-footer. I felt pretty good over it. Just left edge and trust it.”

Grinding Through Tough Conditions

Both Griffin and Schmid struggled in the challenging conditions, with Griffin building his early advantage before watching it steadily erode. The 29-year-old American hit just four of 14 fairways and seven of 18 greens, but his putting and mental toughness proved decisive.

Schmid, the 27-year-old German making his 79th PGA Tour start, kept the pressure on throughout the round despite six bogeys and a double bogey to go with six birdies. His closing birdie made things interesting but wasn’t enough to force a playoff.

“The only two places were right of the green or long left, and I think then I would have had to chip up and over,” Schmid said of his strategy on the challenging final hole. “I think the up-and-down was a little more straightforward.”

Scheffler’s Streak Ends

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler entered the final round six shots back, hoping to become the first player since Dustin Johnson eight years ago to win three consecutive starts. However, the hometown favorite managed just two birdies in a final-round 69 to finish tied for fourth at 8-under.

“Overall it was a really challenging day,” Scheffler said. “I think Friday probably hurt me in terms of winning this tournament, but overall three of the four days I played what I felt was pretty solid.”

Bud Cauley shot the day’s best round with a 67 to finish alone in third at 9-under, while Rickie Fowler’s struggles continued with a 74 that included a damaging 7 on the par-5 11th hole.

Breaking Through

For Griffin, the victory comes just one month after he teamed with Andrew Novak to win the Zurich Classic team event. The breakthrough individual title validates his rising status on tour, though he acknowledged the difficulty of protecting leads.

“No lead is ever safe on the PGA Tour,” Griffin said. “I was trying to keep the pedal down. I kept hitting a lot of drivers, kept trying to give myself birdie putts. I just didn’t give myself a lot of birdie putts.”

Griffin’s victory at Colonial moves him into the winner’s circle with his first individual PGA Tour title, capping a memorable month that began with team success in New Orleans.