Ben Griffin Attributes Poor Start at BMW Championship to Creatine Overdose

Ben Griffin, a professional golfer, revealed an unusual reason for his challenging start at the BMW Championship held at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland. During his final round on August 17, Griffin found himself struggling, sitting six-over par after just three holes.

The 29-year-old attributed his difficulties to an excessive intake of creatine, a supplement commonly used to enhance athletic performance. “I have a tub and was down to the very end, and I just had this rock of creatine that was all built up together,” Griffin explained in an interview. He described the moment he attempted to prepare the supplement: “I’m literally in the locker room chopping it up and putting it in the water, and it’s not really dissolving.”

Griffin recounted taking a swig of the mixture, which turned out to be more than he bargained for. “It was basically just a couple of blobs, and I just swallowed it. Then I feel my body start to act a little weird and, honestly, it felt like I had tremors,” he said.

Ranked No. 17 in the world, Griffin typically consumes about 15 mg of creatine daily. However, on that fateful Sunday, he estimated he ingested that amount all at once. “I hadn’t felt like that on a golf course, never, ever,” he remarked, recalling the anxiety that accompanied his physical reaction.

Contemplating withdrawal from the tournament crossed his mind as the effects of the creatine took hold. Fortunately, as time passed, the intense sensations began to subside. Griffin credited his caddie, Alex Ritthamel, for helping him stay composed and reminding him to hydrate.

“I was doing great 10 minutes after; I just had a little period there where I didn’t really know what was going on,” Griffin noted. Despite the initial turmoil, he managed to regain his focus and finished strong with seven birdies, ultimately shooting one-under par and tying for 12th place.

In a light-hearted moment reflecting on his experience, Griffin quipped, “I don’t think I’ll be taking too much creatine in the future. I will take it, but not in the amount that I probably did on the golf course, which wasn’t probably a healthy amount.”

Looking ahead, Griffin is set to compete in the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, starting Thursday, August 21.