Alumni Take Swings at PGA Titles

Baylor Men’s Golf alumni are making a splash in the professional ranks, with Johnny Keefer, B.B.A. ’24, and Ryan Grider, B.S. ’21, both earning headlines for recent success on the links.

After winning the inaugural PGA Tour Americas title in 2024, Keefer earned his tour card for the Korn Ferry Tour, the developmental tour that allows golfers to earn their PGA Tour card and join the “big leagues.”

With a tear of success for Keefer in the 2025 season, he cracked the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking, securing a spot in his first major — the 107th U.S. Open Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

According to NBC Sports, since turning pro in 2021, Keefer has fired 17 rounds of 64 or better in PGA Tour-sanctioned events, outpacing some of the top golfers in the world like Scottie Scheffler (11) and Rory McIlroy (3).

Described in an NBC Sports article as “one of the hottest players on the planet” right now, Keefer stays humble.

“I just watched Scottie shoot 31 under on a pretty good course,” Keefer said to NBC Sports. “I know what No. 1 in the world looks like. I know what Rory looks like when he’s on. But it doesn’t really scare me … On any level, Korn Ferry, Americas, PGA Tour, signature events, major championships, good golf is going to play really well. I’m really excited to test myself against them and against a major championship course because obviously I’ve never played in one.”

Following in the footsteps of his former teammate, Grider opened the 2025 PGA Tour Americas season with his first career win.

With Baylor alums looking to earn back-to-back titles in the Fortinet Cup standings, Grider took home the 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro trophy in Argentina.

Grider forced a playoff with a pair of birdies over his last three holes. On the first playoff hole, he was able to sink a huge birdie putt to clinch the title.

Keefer and Grider could be the next Bears to join the highest ranks of the PGA Tour pros, following in the steps of Baylor greats like Hall of Famer Jimmy Walker, a 2016 PGA Championship and Ryder Cup winner.