Ben Griffin takes a 2-shot lead in
Napa ahead of his Ryder Cup debut
[September 13, 2025]
By DOUG FERGUSON
NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Ben Griffin went about his business Friday like
he was at any other PGA Tour stop, even with so many Ryder Cup
teammates around him. He played bogey-free for the second straight
day with a 6-under 66 to build a three-shot lead in the Procore
Championship.
Two “cup” players were behind him — one of them fellow Ryder Cup
rookie Russell Henley (68), the other Jackson Koivun, the top-ranked
amateur who went 3-1 last week at Cypress Point to help lead the
Americans to a Walker Cup victory.
Koivun hit a 3-iron to 30 inches for eagle on the par-5 12th, hit a
tee shot out-of-bounds on the 14th and salvaged a bogey, bounced
back with a birdie and wound up with a 66.
Henley lives in Columbus, Georgia — about 30 miles from Auburn where
Koivun enters his junior year — and they know each other well.
“I ran into Russell Henley on the range and told him I was going to
catch him,” Koivun said “So that was my objective.”
They tied, three behind Griffin, who was at 14-under 130.
J.J. Spaun, the U.S. Open champion who also will be at Bethpage
Black, did just enough right for a 68 and was five shots behind
along with Lanto Griffin (70).
Silverado has 10 players on the American team, with captain Keegan
Bradley checking in on all of them. The victory was getting so many
U.S. players to compete and stay sharp, unlike two years ago when so
many of them had gone a month without competition before the Ryder
Cup.
“I wouldn’t even say my mindset’s been Ryder Cup. I’ve been pretty
focused on this golf tournament,” Griffin said. “Without a doubt off
the golf course hanging out with the guys and stuff there’s been
some Ryder Cup presence, but once I get on the first tee I’m
thinking I’m trying to play well here.”
That part is going well. Griffin handled the three par 5s on the
back nine, hit a beautiful tee shot to a left pin over a steep
bunker on the par-3 second and otherwise endured very little stress
on a breezy morning in wine country.
He is one of four Ryder Cup rookies, along with Henley, Spaun and
Cameron Young.
Scottie Scheffler had a few more birdies than his opening round,
just as much frustration when he didn't hit it where he was aiming
and settled for a ho-hum 68 that left him eight shots behind.
Scheffler hasn't finished worse than eighth since March.
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Henley played with Scheffler and Spaun and was the
first to move up the board on a good day for scoring until he was
held back by a three-putt bogey from 45 feet on the par-4 third
hole, and failing to get up-and-down from left of the green at the
par-3 seventh.
But his putting has been superb, and the time spent with teammates
off the course even better.
“It’s a dream come true being able to play on the team, and getting
to play with two teammates this week was really cool these first two
days,” Henley said. “Definitely thinking about it a lot, but trying
to make sure this is a good week of prep.”
Henley and Scheffler went 2-1 together at the Presidents Cup and
were grouped in practice and the weekday rounds for this tournament.
Spaun hasn't felt he terribly sharp, but he said he was “scraping it
around” to post a score.
“It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible,” Spaun said. “I mean, I
took advantage of some really good iron shots and made a few putts
outside of three feet and called it a day.”
Not so for Griffin.
Some two hours after he was finished, Griffin was a lone figure on
the practice green on a gorgeous late summer day in Napa as he
worked on his putting.
“This week I'm trying to literally do the same stuff I’m doing,”
Griffin said. “I’m trying to stay confident, stay motivated and keep
the pedal down.”
All but one of the Ryder Cup players at Silverado have not faced a
36-hole cut since the British Open. Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay
were right on the cut line when they finished and made it on the
number to extend Ryder Cup preparations two days.
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