Maybe it was destiny that PGA Tour pros Ben Griffin and J.J. Spaun finished first and second in the 2025 Aon Next 10 eligibility pathways to PGA Tour Signature Events – considering both made pivotal decisions to recommit to their golf careers after a challenging past few years. Their strong course management this season reflected that renewed focus and led to standout success. That theme of better decision-making, which sits at the heart of Aon’s mission, was front and center as both players rose through the rankings in the program’s second year.
Griffin returned to the Tour in 2023 after a full-time stint as a mortgage loan officer and has made quite the name for himself this season, at one point reaching No. 15 in the Official World Golf Rankings. Separately, after seriously contemplating an alternative career last season, Spaun captured this year’s U.S. Open. Both were among the 40 players who gained entry into Signature Events in the 2025 season via the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5.
Starting the FedEx Cup season ranked 57th, Griffin, with a co-win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and solo victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge, qualified for Signature Events Truist Championship and The Memorial Tournament, respectively. In fact, Griffin tallied six other top 10 finishes to climb the standings and become 2025’s “it” player. While not always leading in traditional stat categories, Griffin’s decision-making was consistently elite — ranking 8th in scoring average, 13th in Strokes Gained: Total, and 19th in greens in regulation. His ball striking and situational awareness kept him in contention throughout the season, reflecting a measured, strategic approach to each event.
Spaun, whose hot starts at Hawaii and San Diego led to him qualifying for the AT&T Pebble Beach Signature Event via the Aon Swing 5, was stellar with his approach shots all year, ranking seventh in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. He was also sixth in total scoring average. Likewise, several other players leveraged the Aon pathways to make meaningful leaps in 2025. Michael Kim scored five straight top-13 finishes in February and March, including runner-up at the WM Phoenix Open that propelled him into the Aon Next 10; Patrick Rodgers catapulted 70 spots up the FedEx Cup rankings via the points he earned through Aon exemptions; and Maverick McNealy’s stellar fall breakthrough helped him qualify for early season Signature Events and capture third place in the Aon Next 10. Meanwhile, Matti Schmid topped the Aon Swing 5, helped out by his 313-yard driving distance average and approach shots within 100 yards that landed an average of 32 feet, 1 inch from the pin.
Strategic decision-making is the foundation of competitive golf — especially on the PGA TOUR, where marginal gains separate champions from the field. The Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 pathways reflect that principle, rewarding players who make better decisions throughout the season to earn their place in the game’s most prestigious events. As a global firm delivering data-informed advice across risk capital and human capital, Aon shares that same belief — empowering clients to make better decisions and achieve superior outcomes.
To explore more on how Aon is enabling better decisions for clients across the world, visit Aon’s Corporate Website or learn more about the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 here.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
