logo
Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak team up to win Zurich Classic for their first PGA Tour wins

Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak team up to win Zurich Classic for their first PGA Tour wins

USA Today28-04-2025

Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak team up to win Zurich Classic for their first PGA Tour wins
Winning on the PGA Tour hasn't been easy for Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin. In their 100th and 89th Tour event respectively, they finally took care of business in the Big Easy, winning the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Sunday by one stroke over Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard.
Novak and Griffin birdied the 71st hole to break a tie and closed in 1-under 71 in the foursomes format at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana, for a 72-hole total of 28-under 260. Griffin pumped his fist and then searched for his caddie and partner for the celebration.
"The reaction said it all," Griffin said.
The Zurich Classic is a 72-hole stroke play format featuring four-ball (best ball) during the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) during the second and final rounds.
Griffin and Novak held the 54-hole lead by three strokes but bogeyed three holes on the front nine and had to grind out victory on the back nine.
The winning duo, who have played a lot of golf together over the years as residents of Saint Simons Island, Georgia, bogeyed the first but bounced back with a birdie at the second. Novak rammed in a 47-foot birdie putt at the fifth to stretch the lead back to three strokes. But they had to sit out a 93-minute weather delay due to lightning.
When play resumed, Griffin and Novak missed an 18-foot par putt at No. 8 and followed with another bogey at nine, shrinking their lead to one at the turn and Capan and Knapp caught them with a birdie at 10.
It was down to wire with three teams duking it out late on Sunday for the title. The team of identical brothers from Denmark – Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard – trailed by a stroke and needed to make something happen at 18. It looked over when Rasmus blew his tee shot left and couldn't do better than birdie for a 68.
Frankie Capan III and Jake Knapp shared the lead and had the honor at the 183-yard par-3 17th. They hadn't made a bogey all day until Capan, a 25-year-old rookie, tugged his tee shot into the water and the best they could do was salvage bogey. They closed in 70 and finished third.
Novak stepped up next and his tee shot hit left of the hole and barely stayed dry, hanging on to the fringe. Novak spread his right hand across his heart as CBS's Trevor Immelman noted, 'My heart skipped a beat.' It soared again when Griffin poured in a 35-foot birdie putt to build a two-stroke lead.
"The wheels were coming off and I was having some issues out of the weather delay but we kept it together and that putt on 17 was unbelievable," Novak said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jordan Spieth Names Best American Athlete Without Hesitation
Jordan Spieth Names Best American Athlete Without Hesitation

Yahoo

time39 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Jordan Spieth Names Best American Athlete Without Hesitation

Jordan Spieth Names Best American Athlete Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth is gearing up for one of golf's toughest tests: the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, set to tee off on Thursday. Advertisement As the PGA Tour season heats up, Spieth finds himself in familiar territory, competing among golf's elite, while also weighing in on a question that has ignited debate across sports: Who is the best American athlete right now? In a video posted by the PGA Tour on X on Wednesday, Spieth was among several Tour pros asked to name the best American athlete currently competing. Without a moment's hesitation, Spieth pointed to NBA superstar Stephen Curry, stating, "I mean, I love Steph Curry. Is he the greatest athlete in the world right now? He's probably one of them." With both being flagship Under Armour athletes, Spieth and Curry have a long history together. Advertisement Spieth extended his Under Armour apparel and footwear deal in 2022 to run through 2029, serving as one of the brand's premier golf ambassadors. Curry, meanwhile, has been with Under Armour since 2013, launching his own Curry Brand sub-label in 2020 and starring in joint promotional and charitable events alongside Spieth as cross-sport ambassadors for the company. So, Spieth's endorsement of Curry comes as no surprise. Golden State Warriors star Steph Edmondson-Imagn Images Even still, his pick isn't entirely inaccurate. Curry's haul of four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022), two MVP awards (including the only unanimous vote in 2016) and status as the NBA's all-time leader in 3-pointers (4,058) already make him one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Advertisement Combine this with a 2024 Olympic gold medal and his transformative impact on basketball, ushering in the era of the 3-point revolution, and Curry's resume argues compellingly for his standing as America's top athlete right now. Related: Phil Mickelson Makes Big Career Announcement on Wednesday Related: Scottie Scheffler Makes Strong Statement After Major Career Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

Shaquill Griffin set to visit the Las Vegas Raiders
Shaquill Griffin set to visit the Las Vegas Raiders

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Shaquill Griffin set to visit the Las Vegas Raiders

Shaquill Griffin set to visit the Las Vegas Raiders The Seattle Seahawks have slowly been attempting to build better depth at the cornerback position this offseason. One of their targets in recent months has been a former Seahawk by the name of Shaquill Griffin. Originally the 90th overall selection by Seattle during the 2017 NFL draft, Griffin has bounced around the league in recent seasons, most recently playing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Griffin and the Seahawks have met twice this offseason, but it appears there is another team interested in the services of a former Pro Bowl caliber corner: the Las Vegas Raiders. Unsurprisingly, head coach Pete Carroll is also reuniting with a familiar face. Pete Carroll and John Schneider having interest in the same players is pretty par for the course, as the two of them drafted exceptionally well together during their shared tenure in the Pacific Northwest. Should Griffin decide he want to play under his old head coach once more, there are still options out there for the Seahawks to sign to help bolster their cornerback depth. Namely, Rasul Douglas and recently released Jaire Alexander. Seattle is in no hurry. Griffin, Douglas and especially Alexander would represent solid options to put into the mix alongside Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. With training camp, the preseason, and the eventual cuts all teams in the league are bound to make just over the horizon, the Seahawks will likely have more than a few options at their disposal to pick from.

2025 U.S. Open purse, payouts: How much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club?
2025 U.S. Open purse, payouts: How much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club?

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

2025 U.S. Open purse, payouts: How much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club?

The third major championship is here, and the USGA is matching last year's record purse in Pennsylvania. The USGA announced on Wednesday that it is offering a $21.5 million purse at the U.S. Open this week. While that's not the largest offered this season on the PGA Tour, it matched the record that the tournament set last year among the four major championships. Advertisement The $21.5 million purse will also send the winner home from Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh with a $4.3 million check. "We didn't raise our purse this year," USGA CEO Mike Whan said on Wednesday. "When I started at the USGA just four years ago, our purse was $12.5 million, so I feel comfortable that we've been a leader in moving fast and bigger ... We understand the competitive set. We know that this probably isn't really about the money for the person who puts it there, but at the same time, we want the money to be commensurate with the achievement." By comparison, the PGA Tour's signature events carry purses of at least $20 million. The Players Championship leads the way with a $25 million purse, which is larger than the four major championships. The Masters offered a $21 million purse earlier this spring, which sent Rory McIlroy home with a $4.2 million check for his win, and Scottie Scheffler took home $3.42 million for his PGA Championship victory. Scheffler is the betting favorite this week, and it's easy to understand why. The top-ranked golfer in the world has won three of his last four starts without any issue whatsoever. He's finished inside the top-5 in two of his last three U.S. Open starts, too. Bryson DeChambeau isn't far behind, and McIlroy is up there, too — though he's coming off a missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open last week. Here's how much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club. Advertisement 2025 U.S. Open payouts 1. $4.3 million 2. $2.322 million 3. $1.445 million 4. $1.013 million 5. $843,765 6. $748,154 7. $674,491 8. $604,086 9. $546,720 10. $502,174 11. $458,280 12. $423,729 13. $394,829 14. $364,829 15. $338,332 16. $316,602 17. $299,218 18. $281,834 19. $264,450 20. $247,067 21. $232,073 22. $217,080 23. $202,521 24. $189,048 25. $177,314 26. $167,319 27. $159,713 28. $152,977 29. $146,458 30. $139,939 31. $133,420 32. $126,901 33. $120,382 34. $114,515 35. $109,735 36. $104,954 37. $100,391 38. $96,045 39. $91,699 40. $87,353 41. $83,007 42. $78,661 43. $74,315 44. $69,969 45. $65,623 46. $61,712 47. $57,801 48. $54,107 49. $51,934 50. $49,761 51. $48,457 52. $47,370 53. $46,501 54. $46,067 55. $45,632 56. $45,197 57. $44,763 58. $44,328 59. $43,894 60. $43,459 61. $43,024 62. $42,590 63. $42,155 64. $41,721 65. $41,286 66. $40,851 67. $40,417 68. $39,982 69. $39,548 70. $39,113 71. $38,678

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store