Scottie Scheffler Gives Honest Verdict on Ben Griffin’s Domination Ahead of Ryder Cup: ‘To See Him…’

The Silverado Resort’s North Course is bustling with US Ryder Cup members. But it’s not the World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler who’s leading the boards. Instead, it’s another Ryder Cup star, Ben Griffin, at 16-under, who’s holding the solo lead. With Scheffler being two shots away, the marquee star has nothing but words of appreciation for the relative underdog. Let’s take a look at what the Ryder Cup star has in mind.

Scheffler told the media when asked about his mindset entering the final round with his Ryder Cup buddy,  “Yeah, definitely glad to see another teammate up on top of the leaderboard. We love going into the Ryder Cup seeing guys play well, and Ben’s had a great year, so it’s nice to see him continue that trend this week and have a good prep week going into the Ryder Cup.” Scheffler’s remark brings forward the team spirit and the patriotic edge of the US team this year, thanks to Keegan Bradley.

Even as Ryder Cup buddies competed at the Procore Championship, this week was more than an individual milestone for the players. It was a team effort as they prepared to bring their A-game to Bethpage. With Griffin’s strong season, including a win at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a runner-up at the Memorial Tournament, the US team is showcasing its depth and unity, moving past criticisms of focusing on individual titles over teamwork.

The US team has faced criticisms for overreliance on star players. The Wall Street Journal claimed that the US team consists of Scottie Scheffler and a “bunch of question marks.” According to the article, Scottie was the only player who strung together a consistently dominant career since Tiger Woods. Other players either lacked long-term track records or were inconsistent off the tee. Players like Colin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, and Jordan Spieth, despite being top names in the roster, have failed to secure a single win in the entire season. This raises the question: Is Scheffler Team USA’s lone beacon?

Turns out, Team US has always challenged this narrative with a strong roster. And this time, Bradley’s squad is ready to flip the script. Not only have the star players shown a surge in performance right before the showdown at Bethpage, but relatively newer players are also sweeping the fields with fierce shots. With 8 top-10 finishes this year, Griffin is red-hot, leaving rivals in the dust. Griffin’s bold play has earned praise from Bradley himself. The captain described the Ryder Cup rookie as “extremely confident” and an “excited” player. Apparently, Scheffler is not the sole flash of hope for Team US.

However, the problem lay with team cohesion and chemistry among the players. With feuds like that of Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth back in 2018, the team’s unity crumbled. But Bradley has brought the team closer through team dinners, outings, and a lead-in Procore Championship before Bethpage. And it’s not just Ben Griffin’s performance that is reflecting this change.

Keegan Bradley leads a new era of team chemistry

On 9 September, the US Team gathered at Napa Valley as captain Keegan Bradley delivered an emotional speech. Ahead of the Ryder Cup, this speech reflects the dedication and team cohesion among the US Team members. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley emphasized that this year’s squad is about more than just individual talent. Speaking to his team, he highlighted the importance of building relationships deeper than golf. Bradley showcased past Ryder Cup highlights and each player’s personal achievements, motivating the team to embrace a collective mindset.

“It was a special night,’’ Gary Woodland, one of Bradley’s vice captains, said, referring to the speech. “Keegan got emotional. It was about getting the guys together a couple weeks before the Ryder Cup and building relationships deeper than golf. We’re trying to build trust and get these guys we know each other.’’ This speech, although subtle, was heavy with the expectations of the entire country. With Ben Griffin on a hot streak, star players like Scottie Scheffler acting as the backbone, and even players like Patrick Cantlay finding their groove at the Tour Championship (T2), Team US is more than ready to take on Luke Donald’s squad.

With Bradley’s leadership, the US team enters the Ryder Cup united and driven. Featuring rising stars like Griffin, steady leaders like Scheffler, and veterans like Cantlay, they’ve built a team founded on trust and camaraderie, ready to take on Luke Donald’s European squad for more than just trophies — but for each other and their country.