Ben Martin Bio
Benjamin Walter Martin (born August 26, 1987) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He has built his career through steady development across the Web.com Tour, the PGA Tour, and the Korn Ferry Tour, earning recognition for a composed short game and a knack for closing rounds under pressure. Martin turned professional in 2010 and has since recorded four career professional wins, including one PGA Tour title.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, Martin plays out of Greenville, South Carolina, the city he now calls home. He is widely respected in the sport for his smooth swing, course management skills, and the consistency that helped him reach a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 48 in May 2015.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Walter Martin was born on August 26, 1987, in Greenwood, South Carolina. Raised in the heart of the American South, he grew up surrounded by a strong golf culture and developed an early interest in the game. The warm climate and plentiful courses of South Carolina provided an ideal environment for a young player to sharpen his fundamentals.
As a junior golfer, Martin displayed the kind of focus and discipline that would later define his professional career. His family encouraged his athletic pursuits, and he spent countless hours on the practice tee and on regional courses, gradually turning a childhood hobby into a competitive ambition.
After high school, Martin continued his education and his golf at Clemson University, a program with a respected tradition in college golf. At Clemson, he refined his competitive game, competed against top-tier amateur talent, and prepared himself for the demands of professional tournament play.
Path to Golf
Martin’s amateur career provided a clear preview of his professional potential. He played in three major championships as an amateur and was the runner-up at the 2009 U.S. Amateur, an achievement that placed him firmly on the radar of professional scouts and tour officials. That level of success against seasoned competition confirmed he was ready to test himself in the paid ranks.
Following his standout amateur season, Martin turned professional in 2010. He won in his second professional event, an impressive debut that signaled his readiness to compete at a higher level. By the end of that same year, he had finished as runner-up at PGA Tour qualifying school, earning the opportunity to play the PGA Tour in 2011.
That early progression from amateur standout to PGA Tour rookie laid the foundation for everything that followed. With a clear roadmap through the Web.com Tour and onto the game’s biggest stages, Martin entered the professional ranks with momentum, structure, and confidence.
Ben Martin Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
Martin began his PGA Tour rookie season in 2011, where he made the cut in 12 of 25 events. Despite his consistency in reaching the weekend, he did not earn enough money to retain his full card for 2012, prompting a return to the developmental circuit. That setback became a turning point, as it pushed him to sharpen his competitive edge.
In 2012 and 2013, Martin played the Web.com Tour, the traditional proving ground for aspiring PGA Tour players. During this period, he picked up his first tour win at the 2013 United Leasing Championship, a result that reestablished his confidence and rebuilt his momentum.
Web.com Tour Breakthrough (2013)
The 2013 Web.com Tour season marked a genuine breakthrough for Martin. His win at the United Leasing Championship was a defining moment, and he followed it with consistent play across the schedule, finishing second on the 2013 Web.com Tour regular season money list.
That runner-up money-list position earned him a full PGA Tour card for 2014, completing a smooth transition from the developmental ranks back to the top tour. It also validated the hard work of his two years on the Web.com circuit and gave him a clear platform to compete against the game’s best players week in and week out.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2014–2015)
On October 19, 2014, Martin captured his first career PGA Tour win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He played the final four holes in 4-under-par, highlighted by a 46-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole, and won by two strokes over Kevin Streelman. That dramatic finish cemented his reputation as a clutch performer.
In 2014, his second full PGA Tour season, Martin finished 76th in the final FedEx Cup standings, a steady result anchored by three top-10 finishes. He recorded a solo third at the Puerto Rico Open and tied for third at both the RBC Heritage and the Quicken Loans National, showing he could contend on a variety of course types.
Martin’s 2015 campaign got off to a quick start with a victory in his second event of the season at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, his first career PGA Tour title defense. He then added top-10 finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship, and the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, confirming his arrival as a consistent contender. His strong play pushed him to a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 48 on May 24, 2015.
Major Championship Performances
As an amateur, Martin played in three major championships, an unusual achievement for any golfer before turning professional. Since then, he has continued to test himself on the biggest stages, including the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.
His most notable major result to date is a tie for 26th at the 2014 Open Championship. He has also recorded a tie for 64th at the 2015 U.S. Open, while making the cut in select Masters and PGA Championship appearances. These performances underscore his ability to compete on the most demanding courses in the world.
Notable Events and Milestones
Martin’s signature moment remains his 2014 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open victory, where a closing 4-under-par stretch and a 46-foot eagle putt delivered his first PGA Tour title. He has also earned recognition for his runner-up finish at the 2009 U.S. Amateur, his climb to a career-high world ranking of 48 in 2015, and his steady presence across multiple tours over more than a decade.
Ben Martin Career Wins
Across his professional career, Benjamin Walter Martin has recorded four total wins, split between the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly the Web.com Tour), and other professional circuits. Each victory marked a different stage in his development, from his early professional debut to his first PGA Tour breakthrough.
PGA Tour Highlights
Martin has one PGA Tour victory, the 2014 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, won by two strokes over Kevin Streelman. The closing run of 4-under-par over his final four holes, including the dramatic eagle putt on the 16th, remains the defining performance of his top-tier career.
Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
On the Korn Ferry Tour, Martin has two career wins. His first tour victory came at the 2013 United Leasing Championship, a breakthrough that helped him climb to second on the regular-season money list and earn his 2014 PGA Tour card. He has also added a second Korn Ferry Tour title in subsequent seasons, reinforcing his consistency on the developmental circuit.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour victories, Martin has one win on the eGolf Professional Tour, an additional circuit that contributed to his early professional development. Combined with his amateur runner-up finish at the 2009 U.S. Amateur, these results paint the picture of a player who has continually found ways to compete and win across multiple competitive environments.
Ben Martin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Martin are limited to the verifiable record. He grew up in Greenwood, South Carolina, and built his early competitive golf career in the American South before continuing at Clemson University. That grounding in a region with deep golf roots helped shape his approach to the sport.
Personal Life
Martin currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina, where he continues his professional golf career. He maintains an active presence through his social media channels, including Twitter, where he engages with fans and shares updates about his tournament schedule.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Benjamin Walter Martin continues to compete at the professional level, drawing on more than a decade of tour experience. His focus remains on consistent play, smart course management, and the steady ball-striking that has defined his career. With the support of his team and a renewed emphasis on scoring opportunities, he is positioned to chase further success on his respective tour.
Throughout the 2025 schedule, Martin has been working to recapture the form that carried him to a career-high ranking of 48 in 2015 and to add to his collection of professional wins. His experience in majors, combined with his comfort on a variety of course types, makes him a steady presence in any field he enters.
Looking ahead, Martin’s goals for the 2025 season center on contending in high-profile events, earning additional tour cards and statuses as needed, and building on his legacy as one of South Carolina’s most accomplished professional golfers. His track record of bouncing back from setbacks suggests that the remainder of the year holds real opportunity for further milestones.
