Lanto Griffin: A True Rags To Riches Saga

Lanto Griffin has prevailed through some challenging times leading up to his surprising win at the Houston Open. His story is one all of us should use as motivation when everything appears to be going against us. In fact, he’s gone from broke to winner in five quick months. GolfDigest.com’s Max Adler provides the inspirational Q&A. The entire article is worth your time.

DAD CAME HOME, TOLD US HE WAS GOING TO BE FINE, AND SLOWLY WE WATCHED HIM STRIPPED OF HIS INDEPENDENCE. His body and mind failed him. We got a call from the health-food store when he backed his car into a pole in the parking lot. With my mom preparing to start work as an elementary-school teacher, on top of all else, I couldn’t ask her for rides to sports. So I fell deep into golf. I could walk to the course and didn’t need anyone.

I PLAYED FOUR YEARS AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY. My first pro event was on the Hooters Winter Series. I shot 71-66-75 to earn $975. Except for the $950 entry fee, it felt like the coolest thing ever. In the last round, I was paired with Will Wilcox. He’d get to the tour faster, but we stayed close.

I PLAYED A FEW SEASONS IN SOUTH AMERICA, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN. But there comes a point when you don’t want to go back. I had $30,000 on credit cards, and my mom was paying my health insurance. The generous members from Blacksburg Country Club didn’t ask me to repay the money they’d invested in me. I was 28, and it was hard telling girls I lived at home half the year. I’d work all week to come out $3,000 further in debt and wonder, What kind of job is it that I have?

AT ONE POINT, THE BIGGEST CHECK OF MY CAREER WAS $17,000 I MADE CADDIEING. This was for Wilcox when he finished tied for fourth at The Greenbrier Classic. A friend of our family, Stuart Swanson, a successful realtor who has been a second father to me as much as Prater, owned a cabin there. So Wilcox’s regular caddie took the week off, and I took a break from missing cuts.

I START SUNDAY T-2 BUT SLIP TO T-5 WITH EIGHT HOLES TO GO. There’s a big rain delay, and if the sky doesn’t clear by 6:15, the event will be called and the fourth round canceled. I’m minutes away from a check that will qualify me for the Web.com Tour for next year. Cartin and I are texting like mad. With 23 guys within three shots of the lead, I’m worried about how many places I could drop. His message is, “Thoughts aren’t real. Dwelling on what could happen is futile.” I’m sure that sounds simplistic, but it isn’t when you’ve lived years with numbers incessantly running through your dome. We go back out. I try to “embrace the opportunity” per doctor’s orders, and win the event and $99,000.

MY LIFE HAS CHANGED A LOT IN A SHORT TIME. I’ve now got my own place in Ponte Vedra Beach, a girlfriend, and I play TPC Sawgrass whenever I want. I can even afford to fly my mom to come watch me play events.

BTW, I did pick him to win the Houston Open…