PGA Tour star banked £540k after fellow player's very honest text message – 'Answer is no'
PGA Tour ace Ben Griffin cheekily demanded a substantial slice of Ryan Gerard's £540,000 prize pot after disclosing he played a crucial role in his landmark triumph. Gerard, 25, secured his first PGA Tour victory 10 days ago at the Barracuda Championship, defeating previous champion Erik van Rooyen by three shots.
Alongside the silverware came the substantial prize fund that represents the largest earnings of his professional career. Yet there existed a scenario where Gerard wouldn't have even participated in the competition as he was scheduled to jet off to Northern Ireland for The Open Championship, where he held second alternate status.
His eleventh-hour journey to Portrush, where Scottie Scheffler emerged victorious, never materialised following a message from Griffin, 29, encouraging him to stay in America and concentrate on the tournament at Tahoe Mountain Club - counsel that has subsequently transformed his fortunes, reports the Mirror US.
Griffin, who won the Charles Schwab Challenge in May, explained their communication prior to the Wyndham Championship, where he'll compete against Gerard. "I think anyone would have responded kind of the same way I did to Ryan," he said.
"Because he sent the text to both me and my caddie, like 'Hey, I'm second alternate, should I come over there?' I mean, it was Tuesday, the answer's no. Go focus on trying to win that (the Barracuda Championship), don't even, like, look at the leaderboard, don't pay attention to anything, just focus on your tournament and what you're trying to accomplish.
"I think any other golfer would have said that, it just so happens that me and Ryan are close and so he texts me." Whilst Griffin himself is savouring a career-best season where he's pocketed over £6million in prize money, it didn't prevent him from cheekily requesting a portion of Gerard's winnings.
"Just 50% of his earnings, is all," Griffin quipped. "I still haven't received anything. I've been looking on Zelle and Wells Fargo and Merrill accounts, nothing's hit yet ... I'll take the credit I guess."
Griffin last month became entangled in a row involving golf legend Jack Nicklaus, where the Chapel Hill-born player received sympathy from the 85-year-old, who spoke out against on-course television interviews.
He was taking part in the Memorial Tournament last month, the tournament that is hosted by the 18-time major winner. After walking towards his ball in the second round, Griffin was approached by Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard, who carried out a walk-and-talk interview.
The reporter said: "Joked yesterday, I asked you what your energy levels are like, and your wife had one answer. She said she was exhausted, you said you were fine. How are you?"
Griffin replied before coverage switched back to the commentary box where Nicklaus, who was sitting as a guest, expressed his disapproval. "I can't stand that," he said.
"The interview on the golf course. Let me tell you how I think, how I feel. I mean, seriously, here's a guy who's leading the golf tournament, he's just hit the edge of the rough, he's got a very difficult shot on a very difficult hole, and you're talking to him about stuff that totally takes his mind off of what he was doing.
"How would you think [Ben] Hogan would respond to that question?" TV host Terry Gannon stepped in by claiming: "Times have changed." Nicklaus replied: "You would not have any teeth left if you did. He'd hit you right in the face with it."
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