Matthew Griffin: What Makes Him Tick?
IN: News | by Anthony Powter | 10 Oct 2008
Australia’s top-ranked amateur golfer and Eisenhower representative Matthew Griffin takes a relatively simple approach to the game. According to the world number five, golf is about breaking aspects of the game into manageable segments and then working your way through each of your goals.
Griffin’s selection into the Australian Eisenhower team for the World Amateur championships starting in Adelaide next week is a long way from the Ivo Whitton events that Griffin was playing just three years ago back in Victoria, when his world ranking did not even register within the top 200.
Matthew Griffin Audio Interview
It’s been a relatively quick rise to the top for Australia’s current in-form amateur player.
Around late 2004, Griffin’s golf results started to improve and he made the field for the Australian Open through sectional qualifying. He began to feel at the time that he could push his game further and seriously contend on the world amateur stage.
“That opened my eyes and I felt that I could do it,” said the 25-year-old earlier in the week at the Federal Amateur in Canberra. His confidence grew as he began achieving his goals.
Back in 2004 Griffin was not even in the Victorian state squad and shortly after the Australian Open he made the round of sixteen at the Australian Amateur at Royal Adelaide.
Griffin is set to return to Adelaide next week this time to compete for what is considered one of the highest achievements in world amateur golf, the Eisenhower Trophy.
His rise to the pinnacle of world amateur golf is a reflection of his dedication, hard work and in particular faith within himself that he could make it.
“You set your goals and work towards them,” he says. “Once you get that major win, like what I had in the US with the Rice Planters, it certainly becomes easier as you know you’ve done it before and that keeps you focused.”
On the course, Griffin goes through his pre-shot routine methodically and gets into the zone in readiness for the shot. It’s a distinctive aspect of his game, as is his ability to “block out” external distractions.
“It comes with experience,” says the 25-year-old.
“My game and the way I approach playing now is totally different to what I was doing two, let alone three years ago. Playing in the UK and the US in the major amateur events this is vital towards broadening your overall game, both with what you do on and off the golf course. Without those experiences you will not make it.”
This year alone Griffin secured three major amateur titles with the Rice Planters Invitational in the US and two National Trial events at the Mandurah Easter Amateur and Keperra Bowl back home in Australia. The wins virtually ensured his selection into the Eisenhower team.
Add to this six top-ten finishes in major international amateur events from just nine starts, including a runner-up finish at the Lake Macquarie Amateur, not to mention being part of the winning Victoria Golf Club Pennant team and the Victorian Inter-state Series winners, his list of achievements would be the envy of any amateur.
“Looking back if you said to me two years ago, would I take being in the world top 50 and have won in the US, I would have said for sure. I’ve worked hard on my game on the range and my swing is where I want it to be.”
The last twelve months has seen considerable changes for Griffin and it is set to continue. Later in the year he plans to move into the professional ranks but realises there is still more work first to be done with his game.
“I know that to make it to the next level and become a professional I’ll need to get better from 100 metres in. Those guys are so good from that range and that’s what separates them from top amateurs. At the moment I’m not at that level, but it will come.”
As to the rest of his game, Griffin is at ease with his where it currently stands.
“My game suits tight courses with fast greens, and I’m relatively straight off the tee and hit a lot of greens, he says.
Griffin’s results on the golf course certainly underpin this concept of hitting fairways and greens as he has been one of Australia’s most consistent amateurs in major events of late.
In Adelaide, Griffin will have his chance to compete against the world’s best and will need to call upon all of his experience and knowledge, as will fellow team mates Tim Stewart and Rohan Blizard, when they battle for the Eisenhower Trophy.
“It’s something that I’ve worked towards for a while,” says Griffin, who arguably is the form player player in the team.
The World Amateur championships is a far cry from playing playing Ivo Whitton events and belting countless ball on the range back at Victoria Golf Club south of Melbourne. Griffin is ready to go as far as his game will let him, but for the present time his focus is on beating the world’s best and savouring the honour of representing his country.
“Standing on the first tee next Thursday wearing the Australian team uniform, it really doesn’t get better that. We’ll give it a good shot, hit fairways and greens and shoot lots of numbers in the 60’s. That will hopefully get the job done.”
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