BEN GRIFFIN TALKS $$$ In the latest episode of our “Ask the Expert” series, we sat down with Ben Griffin to ask him fans’ questions about tour-pro finances. You can watch the full episode on YouTube, but here’s a snippet from it. – Jamie Kennedy Q. How much do caddies get paid? Griffin: Caddies get paid a salary per week and a percentage of what the player makes. The salary probably depends on the player but can range from $2 000 to $5 000. Then they get 7 or 8 percent of your earnings, and the standard for a win is 10 percent. A good week for me is a good week for Alex Ritthamel, my caddie. Q. What about tour finances might surprise the average fan? Griffin: All travel and hotel costs come out of our pocket. There really isn’t anything that’s free except our courtesy vehicle most weeks. My average spend per week in 2025 was probably $50 000.
CONTROL SOMETIMES POSITION TRUMPS POWER
Another benefit of getting stronger and using your bigger muscles off the tee is that every club in the bag gets longer, so you don’t necessarily have to hit driver as often. When being in the short grass matters most, go with a fairway
wood and play for the best position to attack the green. When I’m swinging a 3-wood, especially off a low tee or the deck, the feeling I want is that I’m covering the ball with my chest at impact. I’m posing this position here ( left ). That feel helps me drive the ball forward, not balloon it up. If you copy this move, you have to get more weight into your left side (for righties) as you swing down. If you’re the type of golfer who swings off your back foot or scoops at the ball, this feeling of weight forward and upper body covering the ball is going to really help you compress it off the face. You might not hit it as far as your driver, but you’ll be rewarded with decent distance and your next shot coming from the fairway. You’ll then have a lot more control on the outcome needed to get the ball in the hole.”
Q. When you win a tournament, when do you get the money?
Griffin: It’s always a good feeling when that wire hits your account. On the PGA Tour, you get your money the Wednesday morning after the tournament. Some international events can take a little longer.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 53
MAY 2026
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