Thirteen thousandths. A sigh. Nothing. That’s what has kept Ben Griffin from making his debut at the Masters Tournament in two weeks. 98 thousandths is what separated him from the 50th spot in the world ranking when the classification officially updates after this weekend’s events. As you know, the top 50 in the world ranking this Monday earn their place for the Masters. Griffin will not be one of them. He will be ranked 51st.
As is often the case in these stories, there are two sides to the same coin. The downside has been for Griffin and the upside for Michael Kim. The American born in 1993 has earned enough at the Texas Children’s Houston Open to finish in 50th place, 98 thousandths ahead of Griffin. It will be Kim’s second Masters Tournament. He will try to make up for his debut in 2019 when he missed the cut.
At the Texas Children’s Houston Open this week, there were more battles aside from the logical one for victory. One of the most important was precisely the battle for the top 50 in the world to get into Augusta. Several players were involved. Kim and Griffin were the main protagonists, as they arrived in Houston ranked 52nd and 53rd. Additionally, Eric Cole, Si Woo Kim, Jacob Bridgeman, Mackenzie Hughes, Patrick Rodgers, or Max McGreevy, among others, had their chances. Ultimately, of all of them, only Kim succeeded.
It must be said that the battle for that spot in the Masters was fierce and very exciting. It wasn’t decided until the last moment, the last putt, the last tie between players. It was extraordinary. Griffin, who arrived in Texas behind Kim in the world ranking, finished in a tie for 18th place, while Kim was 32nd. Needless to say, with one more birdie from Griffin or one more bogey from Kim, the situation would have been just the opposite: Griffin could celebrate his debut in Augusta and Kim lament being left out.
It really is a tiny difference. We will have to see if the Masters decides to open the doors to Griffin with a special invitation. They have the possibility to do so, and it wouldn’t be surprising. Otherwise, Griffin will always be remembered as the player who couldn’t play in Augusta by 98 thousandths of a point. Incredible.
