How much?! This PGA Tour pro’s weekly expenses are frightening…
PGA Tour player Ben Griffin broke down everything he spends money on during a week on the schedule, and the total cost isn’t for the faint-hearted…
The life of a PGA Tour player can appear luxurious when they’re at the top of leaderboards week in and week out.
The vehicle of prize money has been oiled more than ever to attract players with LIV Golf and the PGA Tour proving the prime examples in the last 12 months.
But each week, the expenses add up and tour player Ben Griffin broke down the details of his expenses on his TikTok account.
Griffin, 27, earned his first PGA Tour card in 2022 after finishing 15th in the Korn Ferry Tour Eligibility Points List.
He reached the FedEx Cup Playoffs in his debut season but bowed out at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. A solid season nonetheless in which Griffin banked $2,008,294.
This level of earnings is alien to the vast majority of us, but on a weekly basis, this figure can be dwarfed by the extent of expenditure that a PGA Tour player must fork out.
Griffin describes his expense costs as “the lower end,” meaning players at the top end of the earnings list could spend a lot more.
If you click on the image below, the link will take you to Griffin’s full video – one of many he’s posted on his TikTok account.
Ben Griffin PGA Tour expenses
Clubs: Free
Golf balls and gloves: Free
Airfare: Two flights, $500-$1500
Hotels: 7 nights, $1200-$4000 (names Hawaii and Phoenix as particularly expensive places to stay)
Food: $500-$700 (doesn’t drink alcohol during tournament week)
Caddy: $2000 + a percentage of earnings with made cuts
Gas: $50-$100
Locker room: $50-$3000
Other tips: $100-$200
Total: $4000 a week + caddie expenses = approx. $6000
Additional expenses
Coaches fees
Trainer fees
Private jets
Paying for significant others/families to travel with them (flights, food, more hotel rooms/larger homes, childcare, etc.)
Are you surprised by Ben Griffin’s career earnings and expenses on the tour in 2023? Tell us on X, formerly Twitter!
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
