Defending champs Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak keep vibes going at Zurich

TL;DR

Defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak maintain a lighthearted atmosphere as they prepare for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Their media interactions reflect a relaxed confidence ahead of the tournament.

Key points

Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak are the defending champions.
They shared humorous memories from last year's tournament.
The Zurich Classic takes place at TPC Louisiana.
Their media presence shows a relaxed confidence.

Mentioned in this story

TPC LouisianaAvondale, Louisiana

Zurich Classic of New OrleansBen GriffinAndrew Novak

AVONDALE, La. — If there’s a secret recipe to winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, the tournament’s defending champions, didn’t make it seem too complicated by the way they chatted with media on Tuesday at TPC Louisiana.

Standing side-by-side, Griffin smirked like he was waiting for a punchline to hit while Novak played straight man. Asked what he remembers most vividly about last year’s triumph, Novak admitted that he really just remembered winning, nothing else jumped to mind.

“Do you remember being on stage, singing in front of all the Zurich partners,” Griffin asked.

“Nope”

“On the mic, with the band in the background?”

“Nope,” Novak said, looking downward. “That video does not exist.”

Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

The back-and-forth felt less like a formal press conference and more like two longtime friends picking up a conversation they’ve had a hundred times before. And that, more than anything else, might explain why they clicked last year and defeated Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard by a shot.

It was a career-changing moment for both players. Griffin went on to win twice more later in the season and earned Player of the Year consideration, while Novak rode the momentum into the Tour Championship for the first time.

Now they return to the Zurich Classic trying to do something no team has managed since this event shifted to a two-man team format in 2017: Successfully defend.

But if there’s added pressure, they’re doing a good job of hiding it.

“We like the vibe,” Griffin said. “We play well in partner golf together… it’ll be fun to defend for the first time for both of us.”

That word, vibe, came up more than once, and it’s not just something they say. It shows up in how they talk to each other, how they are approaching the week, and how they think about the format.

Unlike some teams that come together for the week, Griffin and Novak go back years, having played junior golf together and shared competitive circles long before they teamed up here. That familiarity removes tension that can creep into the alternate-shot Foursomes format, where one bad swing doesn’t just hurt you, it puts your partner in a difficult spot.