LOS CABOS, Mexico – Ben Griffin didn’t come to the PGA Tour’s Worldwide Technology Championship last year just to make birdies in the bundle. He also came with curiosity and a second purpose. It’s about learning more about “this technological revolution that we’re living in,” he said.
As part of the title sponsorship activation, World Wide Technology, a privately held global technology solutions provider that bridges the gap between business and technology, is committed to the customer experience at Diamante. Tonight there will be a concert featuring Train and OAR. But for some participants, the draw is less about Griffin and more about the panel of executives who participate. The company recently renewed its seven-year title sponsorship and regularly hosts business innovation summits that bring together industry leaders.
Last year’s keynote speaker was none other than Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Griffin, who has been a WWT ambassador for the past three years, was one of the few professionals who wanted to attend.
“Of course I went,” he said. “I don’t know if enough players understand how great golf is and how great it brings people together. To have the opportunity to listen to someone who is going to play such a big role in changing the face of the world over the next 15 to 20 years, it was just amazing to be in that room.”
Griffin recognizes that technology is also changing the way golf is played, how people book tee times and select equipment for their games. It helped him become a better player.
“The technology that we have access to changes from year to year,” he said. “From ShotLink to TrackMan and other launch monitors, we have all the data to help us adjust the distance (to the club) better.”
Griffin said when he was younger, golf technology seemed limited to his own golf equipment, helping club manufacturers advertise that their latest and greatest innovations would add 17 yards to your drive. It has far exceeded that.
“Technology doesn’t just help your club, you use technology to help you hit that club better. That’s the advancement of technology in golf,” he said. “Everything has become more efficient.”
Griffin pointed to decisions made in ball testing that led to the decision to play with MaxFri golf balls.
“You can use eye tests and field tests, but you have to look at the numbers and determine the amount of spin and which ball is better for you,” he said. “I was surprised by the numbers. They used technology to show me that this ball was going to help me, so I ran with it.”
And later this week, Griffin will be running to WWT’s Business Innovation Summit to hear from the latest speakers and learn how technology can help bridge the gaps in our lives, golf and beyond.
