Xander Schauffele, the current titleholder of the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, is taking a new approach. Now, he heads to the Masters with a clearer headspace and new-found motivation. After a year interrupted by injury, Schauffele is positioned to begin making a run at the Grand Slam himself. He understands that the dream of actually accomplishing this incredible feat has always lived in the back of his mind. This dream has motivated him long before he won any big victories.
The 31-year-old Englishman certainly has the credentials at Augusta National, with four top-10 finishes since 2019 including his T7 finish last year. Xander Schauffele to win His brilliant win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month proved that he’s got it. Playing four events leading up to the Masters only added to that confidence. So as Schauffele prepares to head back to Augusta, you can imagine him with a slight adrenaline kick. He explains that the course generally made him feel “like a kid in a candy shop.”
Now, with two crown-jewels majors victories under his belt, he Schauffele is second to none as far as excitement. He is now brave enough to dream about his future – and about winning a third major championship. This change in attitude is a huge step forward for Schauffele. While that’s certainly true, he’s put in the hours to get over the mental hurdles planted by his injury.
Overcoming Adversity
Getting back to competitive golf hasn’t been an easy road for Schauffele. He instead underwent an emotional grieving process after his injury, dealing with feelings of anger, disappointment, and frustration. Describing his recovery, he stated, “I’ve never really dealt with injury before, so I’ve never really been sidelined.”
In that recuperation window, Schauffele was reassured just by being able to hang out with his wife and dogs. He enjoyed binge-watching his favorite TV shows. This unexpected stretch of time gave him the chance to re-examine his own game and recharge his brain. He noted how watching other players excel on the course motivated him to regain his form: “…Watching everyone else play golf and sort of fly by me, it’s been very motivating.”
As he re-entered competitive play, Schauffele has not only avoided missing a cut in his last four tournaments since returning from injury. He recently tied for 12th at the Valspar Invitational. His consistent performance highlights his readiness as he approaches one of golf’s most prestigious events.
A New Perspective on Success
The way Schauffele views success has changed tremendously since he won two majors less than a month apart. He understands now that achieving his goal at 31 is an incredible blessing. Waiting until 35 or 36 with no victory would be extremely unacceptable. “It’s a lot cooler to be a lot closer to that dream of mine at 31 versus 35 or 36 [and] not having won one,” he remarked.
With Schauffele’s misfortune, McIlroy has overtaken Schauffele in moving to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Schauffele bullishly remains focused on the next improvement to make and the next opportunity to seize. He acknowledged McIlroy’s exceptional performance this year, stating, “Rory has been playing unbelievably well this year with a couple wins already and kind of breezing through what looks like hard golf courses.”
What’s fueled Schauffele’s newfound confidence is the result of an extensive mental recalibration process. He mentioned, “It’s been a process to get back to that,” emphasizing that he is learning to see himself as capable of achieving more rather than dwelling on past setbacks.
Looking Ahead
As Schauffele heads into the Masters, he deeply understands the promise that awaits him.… his last couple of outings have really been standout performances. Coupled with his can-do attitude, he is a stronger dark horse this year than Rickie Fowler in 2014. Each day that passes, he gives himself permission to dream bigger and think about what’s possible in the scope of his golfing career.
Leave a Reply