Xander Schauffele’s belief in his ability to win major golf championships was fortified by his victories at the PGA Championship and the British Open. However, a rib injury that put him out of play for two months is testing that conviction. Schauffele has demonstrated his skill at the Masters, notably with a decisive birdie putt on the 18th hole to clinch the PGA Championship last May. He then exhibited stellar command under difficult conditions at Royal Troon, leading to his British Open triumph last June. There, the player who once struggled to win a major emerged halfway to achieving a career Grand Slam.
Reflecting on his capabilities, Schauffele stated, “I know what I’m capable of when I’m feeling good, when I’m not thinking of anything but getting the ball in the hole.” His journey back to top form has been gradual, relying on his former achievements to bolster his confidence. Despite being the most recent major winner, Schauffele, a 31-year-old from California, finds himself somewhat underrepresented at the Masters. The spotlight is on Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player and defending Masters champion, as well as Rory McIlroy, who has secured titles at both The Players Championship and Pebble Beach this year, surpassing Schauffele to rank second globally.
This attention disparity largely stems from Schauffele’s hiatus. An intercostal strain in his rib, coupled with a slight cartilage tear, sidelined him from competition after the season opener at Kapalua until his return at Bay Hill. Since then, his primary accomplishment has been extending his streak to 60 consecutive cuts in PGA Tour events, the longest since Tiger Woods two decades ago. The recovery process has been slow, demanding patience.
The first complete practice session at the Masters was marked by further delays as overnight rain and storms prompted an early closure of Augusta National’s gates. “Sitting here bummed out along with the rest of the field that we can’t practice today,” Schauffele remarked.
During his two-month break, Schauffele occupied himself with TV shows, dinners with seldom-seen friends, and golf on television — a far cry from swinging a club. He acknowledged regret for not addressing the potential issue sooner, saying, “I felt unprofessional, irresponsible, and sad. Then I was motivated. Then I felt sad again. Then motivated, finally.” He was resolved to return to the game, although unsure of when it would happen. “I just want to go out and play golf and compete at a high level, and that was taken from me,” he expressed.
Schauffele had previously played well enough at prominent tournaments such as the British Open in 2018 and the Masters in 2019 and 2021. At the 2024 U.S. Open, he opened with a record-tying 63 at Los Angeles Country Club, prompting the weight of being among the top players lacking a major to bear down on him. Yet, within little over two months, he was already halfway to a career Grand Slam.
“I kept telling myself that I’m far away and that I need to get way better and all those things,” Schauffele reflected, acknowledging he was closer to his goals than he realized. His current standing is ambiguous, given his recent hiatus. Fellow golfer, Scheffler, experienced a similar situation, missing the first month of the season recovering from right-hand surgery due to an accident involving a wine glass. Scheffler hasn’t won leading into the Masters for the first time since 2021 but expressed feeling close to victory.
Schauffele’s latest participation was at the Valspar Championship, where he contended entering the weekend, dropped back, but finished strong tying for 12th place. This was progress, welcoming a point where he felt more at ease with his swing and outcomes. Observing Scheffler’s performance over the past three years and McIlroy’s resurgence have served as motivation. The Masters will serve as a significant test for Schauffele, and he relies on his deep-seated self-belief now more than ever.
“They’ve been playing incredible golf,” Schauffele commented about Scheffler and McIlroy. “It’s just what happens when you’re a really good player and you put things together. Luckily, I was able to do that last year. And there’s no reason I can’t do it again.”