Lanto Griffin Bio
Lanto Maitreya Griffin (born June 15, 1988) is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. Born in Mount Shasta, California, and now residing in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, he turned professional in 2010 and has built a steady career across developmental tours before reaching the top tier of American golf. Across his career, Griffin has recorded five professional victories, including one PGA Tour title, and has become known for resilient late-stage performances in tournament play.
Early Life and Background
Griffin was born in Mount Shasta, California, and moved with his family at a young age to Blacksburg, Virginia, where he spent his formative years. Growing up in Virginia introduced him to a strong regional golf culture and gave him access to a variety of competitive junior circuits. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, he developed a long, athletic build suited to the modern power game, and he channeled that physical foundation into a consistent, repeatable swing.
He attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he competed for the college golf team. During his collegiate career, Griffin emerged as one of the top amateurs in the Colonial Athletic Association, and in 2009 he was named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. That same season marked the high point of his amateur career and helped position him for an early transition to the professional ranks.
Path to Professional Golf
After completing his collegiate career, Griffin turned professional in 2010. His early years on the professional circuit required patience, as he worked his way through mini-tour events and qualifying stages to gain entry into higher-level competition. His development path followed a familiar route, with stints on smaller circuits and developmental tours sharpening his game against seasoned competition.
By 2015, Griffin had reached the PGA Tour Latinoamérica, where he picked up his first professional victory at the Roberto De Vicenzo Punta del Este Open Copa NEC. That same year, he also won the Virginia Open, an event that connected his college roots to his growing professional resume. These results marked the clearest sign yet that he was ready to test himself on a larger stage.
Lanto Griffin Career
Early Career (2010–2016)
Griffin’s first six years as a professional were spent sharpening his game on smaller tours and pursuing status on bigger stages. In 2015 and 2016, he competed on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica, where he claimed the Roberto De Vicenzo Punta del Este Open Copa NEC and added the Virginia Open title. These early wins were important stepping stones, providing the experience and confidence needed to attempt the next level of professional golf.
At the Web.com Tour qualifying tournament in December 2016, Griffin missed full status by just one stroke. Even so, that near-miss allowed him to enter 2017 events as a reserve and positioned him within the reorder category, a critical pathway for players on the cusp of the PGA Tour.
Korn Ferry Tour Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Griffin’s breakthrough arrived in June 2017 at the Nashville Golf Open, a Web.com Tour event. His win was historic, as he became the first player on tour in 13 years to win a tournament after making the cut on the number. The victory propelled him to a 23rd-place finish on the regular season Web.com Tour money list, securing his PGA Tour card for the 2017–18 season.
His first full PGA Tour season proved difficult, and Griffin finished 171st in FedEx Cup points. He returned to the Korn Ferry Tour for its 2019 season, where a win at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship and steady play throughout the year lifted him to sixth on the regular season money list, earning him a second PGA Tour card. Across his Korn Ferry Tour career, Griffin has recorded two wins.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2019–Present)
Griffin opened the 2019–20 PGA Tour season in strong form, posting top-20 finishes at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, the Sanderson Farms Championship, the Safeway Open, the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, and the Bermuda Championship. On October 13, 2019, he captured his first PGA Tour victory at the Houston Open, a breakthrough that cemented his place among the tour’s consistent performers.
His major championship appearances include a T19 at the 2020 PGA Championship, a T35 at the 2021 U.S. Open, and a T33 at the 2021 Open Championship, along with missed cuts at the 2020 and 2021 Masters Tournaments. He reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 49 on March 14, 2021.
Driving Style and Strengths
Griffin’s game is built on a long, repeatable ball flight and disciplined course management. His height and athletic frame help him generate consistent distance off the tee, while his comfort playing from a variety of lies allows him to score on a wide range of course types. He is known for his composure under pressure, an asset that has shown up in tight finishes on both the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour.
Notable Events and Milestones
His signature moment remains the 2019 Houston Open victory, his first PGA Tour title. He is also remembered for his 2017 Nashville Golf Open win, which broke a 13-year tour drought for players making the cut on the number, and for his Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship win on the Korn Ferry Tour. His career-high world ranking of 49 in March 2021 reflects the peak of his PGA Tour trajectory.
Lanto Griffin Career Wins
Across his professional career, Griffin has recorded five wins, split between the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, and other tours. His victories reflect a steady climb through developmental circuits into the top level of professional golf.
PGA Tour Highlights
Griffin’s lone PGA Tour win came at the 2019 Houston Open, where a strong fall season of top-20 finishes set the stage for his breakthrough. The victory was his most significant title to date and gave him multi-year status on the tour.
Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
On the Korn Ferry Tour, Griffin has won twice. His first came at the 2017 Nashville Golf Open, a historic win that also secured his first PGA Tour card. His second Korn Ferry Tour win came at the 2019 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship, part of the run that returned him to the PGA Tour.
Other Wins and Performances
Griffin has also won on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica, capturing the 2015 Roberto De Vicenzo Punta del Este Open Copa NEC, and added the 2015 Virginia Open to his resume, giving him two wins outside the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours.
Lanto Griffin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Griffin was raised in Mount Shasta, California, before his family relocated to Blacksburg, Virginia, where he grew up and developed his golf game. He has built his professional base in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a common home for PGA Tour players. Beyond these confirmed details, additional verified information about his immediate family is limited.
2025 Season Performance
Griffin continues to compete on the PGA Tour, building on the foundation of his 2019 Houston Open victory and his career-high world ranking of 49 from 2021. As with many established tour veterans, his 2025 campaign centers on retaining his tour card through consistent made cuts and strong finishes in the regular season.
His experience across the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour provides a level of comfort in the high-pressure stages of the season, where one strong week can reshape a player’s ranking. With several fall events historically serving as a launchpad for his better play, Griffin typically looks to build early momentum and carry it into the spring schedule.
Looking ahead, his path forward depends on capitalizing on the courses and formats that suit his long, accurate ball-striking. A return to top-50 form would mark a significant step back toward the upper tier of the tour.