American golfer Ben Griffin opened the VidantaWorld Mexico Open on 29 October 2026 with a 64 (−7). His post-round interview, however, was about more than a score: he explained a change in putting practice, a first tournament with a new caddie and a cautious return following time away from competition.
Building confidence from long range
Griffin singled out putts from beyond 20 feet as the strongest part of his round. During his break, he reviewed ShotLink statistics and identified long-range putting as an area to improve. He said his Spider-style mallet putter had served him well on short putts, yet too few attempts from 20 feet and farther were dropping. He therefore focused his practice on those distances. Thursday offered encouraging evidence, though one round cannot establish a lasting improvement.
His scorecard featured an eagle at the third hole alongside birdies and bogeys. The −7 figure is strokes relative to par, not a count of birdies.
A new partnership on the bag
Jon Yarbrough worked as Griffin’s caddie for the first time in Mexico. Griffin had spent four and a half years with his previous caddie, Alex. He described their decision to part as difficult but amicable. Of Yarbrough, he particularly praised his green-reading ability and calm manner. These were early impressions, not proof that a caddie change caused the low score.
Returning after a knee issue
This was Griffin’s first tournament since the BMW Championship. He said he had dealt with left-knee tendinitis for about two years and that imaging later revealed a cartilage fissure. During his time away he received PRP and hyaluronic-acid injections and gradually resumed activity. These are details of Griffin’s personal medical history, not a recommendation of any treatment.
Griffin added that this was his first full 18-hole walk since the BMW Championship and that he felt good afterward. A single successful round does not establish his longer-term knee condition.
Source: official VidantaWorld Mexico Open first-round interview transcript, 29 October 2026: https://tee-scripts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/26-1029-Griffin.pdf
