Matt Griffin turns professional
BY Anthony Powter | 22 Oct 2008
Matthew Griffin, the world’s number three and Australia’s top ranked amateur announced today he is turning professional with his first event to be the Western Australian PGA Championship later in the month.
“The way I’ve been playing the last two years, both here and overseas, confirms that I feel I’m ready to take the next step and turn professional,” said Griffin this morning.
“I’ve managed to get starts in the Von Nida events for the rest of the year and I will play the Australian Open at Royal Sydney in December. Currently, I still awaiting to see if I will get into the Masters and the Australian PGA.”
Griffin’s results in major amateur events over the last two years reveal he’s one of the most consistent players of recent times to break through the amateur ranks.
With 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, Griffin’s list of achievements would be the envy of any amateur.
This year alone Griffin collected three amateur titles with the Rice Planters Invitational in the US and back home in Australia, two National Trial events at the Mandurah Easter Amateur and Keperra Bowl. From eight starts in National Trial events in Australia, Griffin secured seven top-10 finishes with his only blemish, finishing outside the top-10 at the weather effected Tasmanian Open.
The wins virtually ensured his selection into the Australian Eisenhower team, where during last week’s World Amateur Championship, Griffin finished a very creditable 10th in the individual score.
“It’s great to be moving on from the amateur ranks after playing the Eisenhower Trophy,” says Griffin.
“The whole week in Adelaide was a wonderful experience and something that I’ll never forget.”
Griffin’s short term plans has him remaining in Australia. He’ll play the Von Nida events until the end of the year and in January he’s scheduled to attend Asian Tour Q-School.
With support from Drummond Golf, his principal sponsor, Griffin will focus on pocketing enough money to obtain Australia playing privileges to enable him to hopefully gain starts in the co-sanctioned Nationwide Tour events that are scheduled early next year in Australasia.
“We are extremely pleased that Matt has agreed to sign with Drummond Golf for the next two years,” said Drummond’s Managing Director.
“Matt’s association with Drummond Golf goes back many years when he started working at our Cheltenham store. The maturity shown by Matt to complete his tertiary education before embarking on his professional playing career, has impressed all of us at Drummond Golf and will hopefully lay the foundation for others that follow in his footsteps.”
Securing a sponsor early has clearly taken the pressure off Griffin on his formative days on the tour.
“It’s certainly exciting times,” Griffin says.
“My game is at a stage where I feel I’ll be competitive and hopefully get off to a good start in the Von Nida events and see how it goes from there.”
Griffin remains optimistic the transition into the professional ranks will be seamless for him and if he continues to put in the hard work, the results should follow.
“I have a few options, but ultimately when you are a rookie you need to get as much experience as you can and find a tour to play. I’m not saying that it will be easy but if you work hard, it should fall into place.”
