Profile: Lanto Griffin, 2020 Ambassador
Lanto Griffin has won at every level of professional golf. One of the PGA Tour’s brightest up-and-comers in 2019, Lanto (pronounced “LON-toe”) has already made an impression in 2020.
When we caught up with Lanto during the Covid-19 quarantine, he was entering his ninth consecutive week of working out four days a week with former Masters champion and fellow Ponte Vedra resident Vijay Singh, and his team.
According to Lanto, a normal week included:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 9 a.m. workout; 10:30 a.m. infrared sauna; 11:30 a.m. lunch; 12:30-5 p.m. range practice and short game work
Tuesday/Thursday/Sat: 8 a.m. 18 holes at TPC Sawgrass; Noon lunch; 1-5 p.m. practice and/or workout
Sunday: Beach/Paddleboarding/Day off
Lanto said that since he began working out with Singh, he’s lost eight pounds (205 down to 197) and put on a lot of muscle — while also strengthening his lower back and hips, which he says have always been a weak spot for him.
“Vijay has incredible discipline and has the ability to do the little things that most athletes don’t,” Lanto said. “This is what makes him a Hall of Famer. His work ethic has inspired me to be better.”
“My game feels really solid,” he said “I can’t wait to get back on tour in Dallas.”
Before the PGA Tour was put on hold this spring, Lanto had continued his hot play in 2020, recording a pair of top-10s – a T7 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and T9 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Ams – along with three additional top 30 finishes. He enjoyed seven top-20 finishes in nine starts with just one missed cut during the first two months of 2020. Read more about Lanto’s achievements in a blog from last fall, Catching Up with Lanto Griffin.
Making the most of the break from tour
“It’s been such a whirlwind past seven months that this break will do me well, I think. At least that’s my mindset,” Lanto said. “I’ve played more than any other player on tour in the 2019 – 20 season and I’m very lucky to be in the situation on the FedEx Cup that I am during these uncertain times. So, I’ve been very positive and excited to have some downtime to work on my game and recharge the batteries for what will hopefully be a busy summer and fall.”
The southwest Virginia native and Virginia Commonwealth University alumnus, who now resides near Jacksonville, Florida, said he and his girlfriend, Maya, have begun fostering a dog named Troy. “He isn’t a puppy but he is to us,” Lanto said. “He had been stuck at a shelter for the past 18 months and shelters are overwhelmed during the coronavirus outbreak. We are both very excited to have a furry friend around.”
“We also bought a lot in Jacksonville Beach and we are going to build a house. So, we will have plenty of time to plan the layout and help our builder with the process. We were a little nervous about building a house with how much we travel, but now it will be much easier.”
Lanto said that not traveling every week has been, “weird but great.”
“I took four days off after The Players was canceled,” he said. “I bought four books and a PlayStation to help pass the time here in Jacksonville Beach. A couple weeks off is going to be great, but I’m so used to traveling and competing that I’m sure the second half of this break will be challenging. There is nothing like competition.”
Lanto admitted that having his first Masters appearance get (at best) postponed is a bitter pill, but he is choosing to look at the bright side. “The Masters being postponed was a kick in the gut for sure,” he said. “But, with everything going on around the world it’s hard to complain about not being able to play a golf tournament, even if it’s The Masters.
Looking forward to fall
“It looks like they will reschedule for early October, and it will be really cool to be part of a fall Masters,” Lanto said. “I’m also close to locking up a spot at the Tour Championship, which would mean I would qualify for all four majors in 2020 – 21. So, potentially I could play two Masters tournaments in a seven-month span. That’s exciting!”
With just a few months to digest his life-changing success, Lanto said it is still hard to put the past year in perspective. “It’s interesting how the human brain can adapt so quickly,” he said. “If you had told me I would finish 125 on the FedEx Cup and keep my card in my second year on tour, I would I have been stoked. Now, I have two more years for the win in Houston and have a great opportunity to make the Tour Championship and a chance at the FedEx Cup. It feels surreal, but I’m excited for the remainder of the year, whenever we get back to competing.
“I’ve been thinking what it will feel like to get back to competing and can’t wait for that first tournament back,” he said. “There is nothing like competing on the PGA Tour. I’m working on getting my backswing deeper and creating more width going back and through impact. This is something I work on constantly.”
Lanto said he looks forward to reconnecting as soon as possible with Dormie Network members and guests.
“I send my best to everyone during this difficult time,” he said. “I hope we all can learn from this unprecedented situation that the entire world has been thrown into.”
