Ben Griffin’s right-hand man on the course is Alex Ritthamel, a veteran caddie with 10+ years on the PGA Tour. He’s looped for names like C.T. Pan and Matt Jones, and since teaming up with Griffin in 2023, he’s been a key part of the young star’s rise.
For Ben Griffin, the 2024 Genesis Invitational was unforgettable. For his caddie, Ritthamel. When Griffin’s clubs went MIA, Ritthamel and friends made a heroic 12-hour round trip to Phoenix to fetch them, arriving just in time for a Tuesday practice round. From clutch drives to cross-country drives, Ritthamel’s been Griffin’s MVP since 2023.
Not much information is available about Alex Ritthamel’s personal life. His love for golf started young, inspired by Jack Nicklaus’s videos. He donned an interlock grip, rare among his peers, and even braved hot summers in pants. These early interests fueled his deep passion for the game. Then, according to Ritthamel’s LinkedIn profile, he graduated from Granada Hills High School, where he studied from 2001 to 2005. Although many now see him as the person behind Ben Griffin’s gameplay, the caddie has been involved in golf long before Griffin entered the picture, and in various ways!
For instance, Ritthamel worked as a Sales Manager at John Wells Golf Shops from December 2004 to April 2007, gaining valuable lessons and experience in sales and customer service within the golf community even before he officially started on the greens. Following this role, he received his first big break in the golf industry as a Director. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served as the Director of Golf at Rustic Canyon Golf Course from March 2007 to May 2009, where he managed golf operations and contributed to the development of the course’s programs.
Since January 2009, Alex Ritthamel has accumulated a combined 16 years of experience as a self-employed caddie and short game coach. This experience has undoubtedly enabled him to showcase his expertise in golf and his ability to work independently in the sport. Additionally, he has worked as a caddie on the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour since 2010, further enhancing his skills and knowledge on a global platform.
Over the years, Ritthamel has collaborated with several golfers, including Tommy Gainey, Matt Jones, and Andrew Landry. However, his work with Ben Griffin and C.T. Span probably explains why people often talk about him in the golf community.
By the time Ben Griffin finished 8th on the KFT’s Points List to secure his PGA Tour card, he had already begun working with Alex Ritthamel. If he was looking for a capable caddie, he found one in Ritthamel. After the special moment at the 2024 Genesis Invitational, Griffin remarked about Ritthamel, “I’m used to it, playing professional golf and golf in general for most of my life; I’ve had plenty of clubs get lost, but a week like this, it was very nice of Alex and his friends to go do that. I thought they were crazy for doing it.” Additionally, Ritthamel has shared a special moment with C.T. Pan as well.
Alex Ritthamel shared his first win as a caddie with C.T. Pan
Alex Ritthamel has yet to see a win with his current player, Ben Griffin; however, his first win as a caddie with Tour pro C.T. Pan at the 2019 RBC Heritage shares a glimpse of the kind of pride he is capable of feeling. On Sunday afternoon at Harbour Town during the 2019 season, Taiwanese rising star C.T. Pan registered his first win by firing a final-round 4-under 67. Ritthamel was right there on the bag, celebrating his first win as well. Having caddied on the Web.com and PGA Tours since 2010 for golfers like Andrew Landry, Matt Jones, and Tommy Gainey, Ritthamel officially began working with Pan in January of that year, making this victory a significant milestone for both.
When Alex Ritthamel sat down to discuss how the final round felt, he described it as a “surreal feeling.” He added, “I’m a real competitive guy. Coming down the stretch, the last five holes, when we knew we were in the lead, it was a great feeling to have, knowing that if we executed our game plan, we’d have a chance to walk away with the trophy. We stuck to the plan, and it paid off,” Ritthamel said during the post-round interview.
There was a nerve-wracking moment at the 15th hole when C.T. Pan’s tee shot landed in the trees, but he got a lucky bounce that kept the ball in play. He swiftly bounced back on the 16th hole by sinking a birdie, which Ritthamel viewed as the standout moment of the week. Ritthamel, who played the role of “calming presence” for Pan during the round at the request of Pan’s wife, later shared that after the “media stuff” of about “an hour and a half,” the winning duo went out to grab dinner. However, during dinner, they talked more about the food than golf itself! “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but everyone is saying ‘congratulations’ here in New Orleans. I’m back to work and want to win again,” he added.
Knowing how amazingily Alex Ritthamel reacts after a win, the fans are hoping we can see a similar situation between Ben Griffin and him!
The post Who Is Ben Griffin’s Caddie? His Career, Personal Life & More Explored appeared first on EssentiallySports.