Xander Schauffele is sporting a cheerful smile from his laptop as he enjoys his vacation in Portugal, but there’s a hint of weariness in his eyes. The narrative of cause and effect is captured in the item on the table behind him.
It has been a week since the American triumphed at The Open and just one day since his latest use of the Claret Jug.
‘My dad is quite the traditionalist,’ Schauffele shares with Mail Sport. ‘He believes only red wine should fill the Claret Jug and nothing else. But since he’s not here, perhaps some tequila made its way in last night.’
This moment marks a pause in Schauffele’s remarkable season. He is soon heading to Paris to defend his Olympic title, but for the time being, he relishes the comfort of knowing he won’t have to face those persistent questions about his previous close calls in major tournaments. Securing the US PGA Championship and The Open within just nine weeks put that speculation to rest.
‘I’m just immensely happy,’ he exclaims, intertwining this joy with a story about Tiger Woods. There’s a running joke in the sport that a major win is the key to receiving a text from Woods, and Schauffele’s messages are gradually piling up.
In the space of nine months, Xander Schauffele (pictured) has silenced talks of his near misses
His victory at Royal Troon last week has encapsulated what’s been a sensational season
After waiting so long to win a major, Schauffele (pictured) would clinch the PGA Championship in May before reigning victorious at Royal Troon
‘Tiger sent me a message along the lines of “Champion Golfer of the Year, take it all in.” How cool is that?
‘At Troon, I played my first two rounds with him. I didn’t see him the entire week until Thursday when he looked at me and asked, “How does it feel?” At first, I wasn’t sure what he meant, and then it hit me—he was referencing my major win now.
‘I find it amusing just thinking back to that moment. Here I am, thrilled with two titles, and he has 15. It’s humbling to compare myself to one of the greatest players to ever play the game. But genuinely, I am just so happy.’
Schauffele’s swift rise in the sport has shifted the dialogue away from Scottie Scheffler’s recent dominance over the past two years. No one can diminish Scheffler’s position atop the leaderboard—‘Scottie is on top of the mountain, far ahead of us climbing up the side’—but with his two majors, Schauffele has now posed an undeniable challenge to the 30-year-old’s reign.
His understated public image may have caught many casual fans off guard, but labeling him as dull or boring would be a significant error. Schauffele, known as the “Ogre,” has finished in the top 10 in 12 of his 24 majors before winning the US PGA in May, proving he is anything but unremarkable.
This week, the American is out to defend his Olympic gold medal at Le Golf National in Paris
Schauffele was seen embracing his father, Stefan, after winning at Royal Troon last week, a former decathlete
The golfer and his dad have plotted his rise meticulously, with Schauffele adding the pair smoked a cigar after the Open
That would be Schauffele’s father, Stefan, a former decathlete who often dons a Panama hat and has been present for nearly every step of his son’s career, serving as mentor, swing coach, and dad. The only exception was during the US PGA Championship in Kentucky, when Schauffele Sr. was 4,000 miles away, constructing a self-sufficient compound on a 22-acre property in Hawaii while living in a shipping container without a TV. He was in tears at Troon when his son laid claim to the jug.
‘He has played a colossal role in my career,’ Schauffele says of his father, who introduced him to cognac and cigars on his 12th birthday. They’ve had their share of arguments, but they have also meticulously strategized this ascent together.
‘When we got back home after The Open, we shared a cigar together. The trophy was out, and he becomes emotional every time he sees it. He may come off as brash and stern at times, but he’s truly a big softy inside.
‘His dedication has propelled me so much.’
In fact, it was under his father’s guidance that Schauffele began outlining his aspirations in golf during his early teens. One of those ambitions is now halfway to realization for the world No. 2.
Under his dad’s instruction, Schauffele has began listing out what he wants to achieve in golf
His goal is to win the career grand slam, something he has wanted since the age of 13, and is now only two titles away from doing so
The US Ryder Cup star also opened up on winning gold in Tokyo, stating it ‘was huge for me’
‘Winning the career slam has always been on my list of goals,’ he says. ‘Reaching two victories now, after such a long wait for my first, feels truly satisfying. Expectations can be overwhelming, and in sports, we all encounter some level of stress and anxiety. It’s something I’ve dealt with. So, reaching two is fantastic and it constantly reminds me of those formative years when I penned down my aspirations with my dad—becoming the number one player in the world, and winning majors.’
Triumphing at Troon was spectacular thanks to Schauffele’s masterful dismantling of one of golf’s most arduous tests. His 69 on a brutal weather Saturday was a showcase of brilliance; a bogey-free closing 65 that kept Justin Rose at bay was one of the finest final rounds in memory. Winning under such challenges rightly distinguishes the elite in golf.
‘That Saturday was something else,’ he reflects. ‘It was a bloodbath out there. I call it dogfight golf—it’s messy and it can feel terrible, but the key is to endure slightly better than everyone else. I was determined to battle through every hole in the rain and wind.
‘I accessed a different part of my mindset, and I’m pleased I proved I could. Everything aligned perfectly. From a technical standpoint, my ball went further thanks to starting the year with a Callaway Chrome Tour, which flew straight every time. I visualized the shots and placed the ball precisely. This all speaks to confidence and the extensive work that led to this moment.
‘By the time Sunday arrived, I was at ease. I had finally lifted a huge burden off my shoulders by winning the PGA, and I knew my advantage at Troon would manifest if I remained in contention come Sunday. This delivered the calming energy needed as I approached the back nine on Sunday, affirming to myself that I could do this.’
His dad had ‘desperately wanted to be an Olympian’ and Schauffele says he ‘understands what the Games mean’
The first round of the men’s tournament will start on Friday but Schauffele will be competing against a field that is crammed with talent
But taking heed of the wisdom of his decathlete dad, Schauffele’s approach to golf has brought remarkable results and could yield another Olympic medal
The next challenge awaiting him is a captivating one. Golf made its return to the Olympics in 2016 after a 96-year absence, thus it may not be the central focus in a sport where majors reign supreme. However, Schauffele feels a closer connection due to Stefan, who had aspired to compete in the Olympics for Germany until a car accident at 20 left him blind in one eye.
‘Winning gold in Tokyo was monumental for me,’ Schauffele reflects. ‘During a rough patch in my career, I managed to overcome a formidable field. I have the podium photo—due to Covid, I wore a mask as I held my medal.
‘With my dad having desperately wished to be an Olympian, I grew up grasping the significance of the Games. There’s a serious family legacy for me—my dad’s grandfather even competed in hammer throw. Sharing that Tokyo win with my dad was incredible, but my father’s decathlon background has significantly influenced my golf progression.
‘His philosophies revolve around the decathlon—he’d argue that my golf game mirrors that of a decathlete. It’s not necessary to excel in every area; the key is to be solid across the board, embodying that versatile decathlete mindset.’
For Schauffele, with the support of his “Ogre”-style mentor, this approach has yielded an outstanding year, punctuated by a tequila-scented jug.
