HOUSTON – When the decisive 6-foot par putt fell Sunday at the Houston Open, Lanto Griffin raised both arms in celebration while a look of rapturous disbelief crossed his face. Then he started sobbing, the long, unique and heartbreaking journey to becoming a PGA TOUR winner fueling his emotions. Some 1,200 miles away in Roanoke, Virginia, Steve Prater was jumping for joy, his head nearly reaching the ceiling. It had been the same reaction the day before when Griffin holed a bunker shot for a much-needed birdie. “I’ve jumped so much this week that I’ve got a headache,â€� Prater said. Prater is the Director of Instruction at Roanoke Country Club, but several years ago he worked at Blacksburg Country Club. That’s where he met Griffin, who back then was a boy with self-described “hippiesâ€� for parents — including his dad, Michael, who managed a health food store and knew a little about baseball and soccer, but not as much about golf. Related: Leaderboard | What’s in Griffin’s bag? | Griffin turns consistency into victory So they went to a junior clinic, where Michael met Steve to discuss young Lanto’s interest in golf. Prater soon took over the teaching. And then when Michael died of a brain tumor, Prater became much more to the 12-year-old Lanto. Friend, confidant, a father figure. The connection was golf but really, it became about life. “I remember when Lanto’s dad died,â€� Prater said. “I knew he was sick but it was still kind of a shock to me. Lanto was in the bag room when I saw him. … He was sad, crying. We hugged for a while. Ever since, we’ve had a bond.â€� Griffin was asked Sunday about his dad. “I bet he’d be pretty proud,â€� he responded while trying to hold off the tears. “He got me started. He got me a set – I don’t know if I’ll be able to tell this story – but for Christmas in 1996, he got me a 5-iron, 7-iron, 9-iron, putter, 3-wood and he got me into golf. “And then Steve Prater, he took it from there.â€� Losing a parent at any time is difficult is harsh, but for a teenager, it can be devastating. That same horrible day that Michael Griffin died, Prater told Lanto that he had secured him an honorary membership to Blacksburg. And as Lanto threw himself into golf, Prater was there to teach and support. When Virginia Commonwealth University came looking for golfers, Prater pointed to Lanto. They signed him to a scholarship. And as Lanto turned pro, Prater helped navigate him through the ups and downs – especially the struggles that left Griffin nearly penniless and caused him to question his career choice. In 2014, Griffin had $176 in his bank account. In the spring of 2017, he told his agent he was quitting the sport. But then he started seeing a sports psychologist, and turned things around, winning in Nashville on the Korn Ferry Tour. That led to membership on the PGA TOUR in 2018, but Griffin could not keep his card. He was too aggressive, firing at pins he had no business seeking. He lost his card but gained perspective. Back on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, he won again and earned a second shot at the TOUR. And now he’s a TOUR winner, breaking a tie with playing partner Mark Hubbard and Scott Harrington with a 33-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole – his caddie Chris Nash said Griffin called it before his stroke — and then parring the two hardest holes on the course to finish it off. The journey from the poor house to the penthouse was difficult to comprehend. He won’t have to worry about his TOUR card for a few years. He’s headed to Maui in January, and his Season of Championships schedule next year will be pretty full. He’s now No. 1 in FedExCup points, so the Playoffs are a given now. Griffin, in fact, has already achieved several of his goals for this season; he keeps the list on his phone and was happy to share Sunday. Among them: Playing in a final group on Sunday, keeping his card, top-70 FedExCup, qualify for THE PLAYERS Championship and other invitationals, and producing a Sunday scoring average within a 1/2 stroke of his normal scoring average. His No. 1 goal, though, was simply to win. “It’s incredible,â€� he said. Also on his phone, the text count was growing, reaching upwards of 500. Everybody who knew his journey wanted to congratulate him. No doubt one of those texts was from Prater, who had sent a text the night before the final round as Griffin prepared to sleep on a one-shot lead. It read: Are we having fun yet? On Sunday, Lanto Griffin had plenty of fun. But he also had plenty of people to thank. His mother, who had made Team Lanto T-shirts. His girlfriend, Maya, an attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina, who had flown in this weekend to walk outside the ropes. Stuart Swanson, who had provided so much support and used to drive him to junior events. So many others – “20 or 30 people that if they didn’t open their checkbooks to me in amateur golf, junior golf, mini-tours two years ago, I couldn’t have kept playing,â€� Griffin said. And of course, Steve Prater, the man with the headache. “I wouldn’t be here without him,â€� Griffin said. “He opened every door in golf that I ever had, teaching me for free, giving me a membership. He’s had my back the entire journey.â€� Said Prater: “It’s been a great relationship. He’s such a special person. At the time, when you’re doing those things, you don’t realize how beneficial they can be. Only later in life, you understand that those things were really important for him.â€� Prior to this season, perhaps around the time he was making out his list of goals, Lanto Griffin decided to put Prater on his payroll as part of Team Lanto. Until now, he had never been in financial position to do that. “He deserved every penny that I’m going to pay him,â€� Griffin said. “I can’t wait to write that check to him.â€�
Lanto Griffin’s incredible journey leads to an emotional win
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1st Round 3-Balls – S. Alker / R. Goosen / E. Els | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Steven Alker | -105 |
Ernie Els | +230 |
Retief Goosen | +260 |
1st Round 3-Balls – M.A. Jimenez / J. Kelly / P. Broadhurst | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jerry Kelly | +160 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | +160 |
Paul Broadhurst | +220 |
1st Round 3-Balls – V. Singh / K.J. Choi / D. Toms | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
David Toms | +130 |
K.J. Choi | +170 |
Vijay Singh | +250 |
1st Round 3-Balls – C. Montgomerie / A. Cejka / D. Clarke | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Cejka | +120 |
Darren Clarke | +170 |
Colin Montgomerie | +280 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Kim / A. Noren / J. Lower | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | +100 |
Justin Lower | +185 |
Michael Kim | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – K. Chappell / T. Pendrith / K. Yu | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Pendrith | +120 |
Kevin Yu | +160 |
Kevin Chappell | +300 |
2nd Round Six-Shooter Group B – J. Spieth / J. Day / A. Noren / T. Hoge / T. Kim / K. Mitchell | |
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | +375 |
Alex Noren | +400 |
Jason Day | +400 |
Tom Hoge | +425 |
Tom Kim | +475 |
Keith Mitchell | +500 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K. Yu vs T. Pendrith | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Pendrith | -120 |
Kevin Yu | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Noren vs J. Day | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -110 |
Jason Day | -110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C.T. Pan / M. Trainer / G. Sigg | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg | +130 |
C T Pan | +140 |
Martin Trainer | +320 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – R. Palmer / P. Kizzire / B. Taylor | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Palmer | +120 |
Patton Kizzire | +145 |
Ben Taylor | +330 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – B. Garnett / T. Hoge / D. Berger | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Hoge | +110 |
Daniel Berger | +175 |
Brice Garnett | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Wallace / K. Kisner / C. Champ | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | +110 |
Cameron Champ | +140 |
Kevin Kisner | +400 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K. Mitchell vs T. Hoge | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Champ v D. Berger | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Daniel Berger | -130 |
Cameron Champ | +110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Villegas / T. Kim / M. Hughes | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Kim | -105 |
Mackenzie Hughes | +140 |
Camilo Villegas | +500 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – V. Norrman / S. Cink / M. Kuchar | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Kuchar | +150 |
Vincent Norrman | +165 |
Stewart Cink | +220 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Spieth v T. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -130 |
Tom Kim | +110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Day / J. Spieth / S. Noh | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | +115 |
Jason Day | +135 |
SY Noh | +400 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Echavarria / C. Reavie / K. Mitchell | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -105 |
Nico Echavarria | +200 |
Chez Reavie | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Hubbard / M. NeSmith / D. Ghim | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Ghim | +145 |
Mark Hubbard | +165 |
Matt NeSmith | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Lashley / A. Baddeley / M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | +135 |
Matti Schmid | +160 |
Aaron Baddeley | +250 |
2nd Round Match-Up – N. Lashley vs M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | -120 |
Matti Schmid | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. McNealy vs D. Ghim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -120 |
Doug Ghim | +100 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – K. Streelman / B. Wu / R. Shelton | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brandon Wu | +160 |
Robby Shelton | +160 |
Kevin Streelman | +210 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Hahn / Z. Blair / T. Montgomery | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Montgomery | +150 |
Zac Blair | +175 |
James Hahn | +200 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. McNealy / J. Bramlett / B. Kohles | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | +135 |
Joseph Bramlett | +175 |
Ben Kohles | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – B. Martin / C. Hadley / C. Tarren | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chesson Hadley | +150 |
Ben Martin | +165 |
Callum Tarren | +215 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – R. MacIntyre / T. Crowe / P. Fishburn | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robert MacIntyre | +130 |
Patrick Fishburn | +190 |
Trace Crowe | +220 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – Z. Dou / C. Gotterup / R. Pereda | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | +110 |
Zecheng Dou | +175 |
Raul Pereda | +300 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Gotterup v M. Greyserman | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Max Greyserman | -125 |
Chris Gotterup | +105 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Bridgeman / B. Hale / M. McGreevy | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jacob Bridgeman | +105 |
Max McGreevy | +145 |
Blaine Hale Jr | +400 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Stanger / M. Meissner / R. McCormick | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jimmy Stanger | +150 |
Mac Meissner | +160 |
Ryan McCormick | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – T. Olesen / W. Furr / P. Kuest | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +140 |
Peter Kuest | +160 |
Wilson Furr | +240 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – A. Smotherman / S. Valimaki / B. Hopfinger | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sami Valimaki | +145 |
Austin Smotherman | +160 |
Brad Hopfinger | +225 |
Volvo China Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -120 |
Paul Waring | +600 |
Guido Migliozzi | +1000 |
Adrian Otaegui | +1200 |
Joel Girrbach | +1800 |
Zander Lombard | +1800 |
Frederic Lacroix | +3500 |
Jesper Svensson | +5000 |
Kiradech Aphibarnrat | +6000 |
Jordan Smith | +6500 |
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2nd Round 3 Balls – L. Herbert / L. Oosthuizen / E. Lopez-Chacarra | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Louis Oosthuizen | +110 |
Lucas Herbert | +160 |
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra | +320 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – D. Johnson / M. Leishman / A. Meronk | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dustin Johnson | +160 |
Adrian Meronk | +175 |
Marc Leishman | +190 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – G. McDowell / B. Steele / T. Gooch | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Talor Gooch | +100 |
Brendan Steele | +180 |
Graeme McDowell | +320 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – S. Munoz / T. Pieters / B. Koepka | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | +110 |
Sebastian Munoz | +210 |
Thomas Pieters | +230 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – K. Na / D. Burmester / J. Niemann | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joaquin Niemann | +110 |
Dean Burmester | +160 |
Kevin Na | +325 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – C. Tringale / A. Ancer / M. Kaymer | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Abraham Ancer | +110 |
Cameron Tringale | +170 |
Martin Kaymer | +300 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
Win Any Remaining Signature Event | -200 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | +115 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +135 |
All Remaining Signature Events – Top 10 Finish | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +210 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +240 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +280 |
Win 2 Remaining Signature Events | +450 |
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PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy – RBC Canadian Open Winner | +1000 |
Miles Russell – Win a Major before 30th birthday | +3500 |
Scottie Scheffler & Nelly Korda – Win All Remaining 2024 Majors | +50000 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |