The golfing world has been keenly waiting for the return of the 31-year-old professional golfer, Xander Schauffele, to the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational. However, the anticipation has been marred by a worrisome revelation from a reliable source close to the golfer. Dan Rapaport, a renowned journalist and an associate of Schauffele, has dropped a bombshell that could leave Schauffele’s fans in a state of disquiet.
Schauffele, who has been off the radar since the inaugural match of The Golf League (TGL) in early January 2025, has been nursing a rib injury he sustained in late 2024. His recovery journey has not been smooth sailing, leading to his withdrawal from two critical events. Now, there’s a looming possibility of him missing a third tournament.
Rapaport took to social media to share a cryptic message. The tweet quoted Schauffele expressing his optimism about his return to the competition at the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational. However, the decision about his participation was still pending. He had an impressive run in 2024, winning two majors, but the rib injury has side-lined him since the start of 2025, causing him to miss two key events.
Despite the optimism, Schauffele’s willingness to delay his decision raises questions about his full recovery. Even if he steps on the greens of the Bay Hill Golf Course on March 6, 2025, fans should brace themselves for the possibility that he might not be in his prime condition to compete.
Adding salt to the wound, Schauffele’s ranking on the Official World Golf Rankings leaderboard is set to take a hit. He is expected to lose his second position to the Irish golf sensation, Rory McIlroy, who recently triumphed at the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. This is undoubtedly a challenging phase for Team Schauffele.
Coming back to winning ways immediately on his return to the PGA Tour will be a daunting task for Schauffele. The question, however, remains: Can he defy the odds and bounce back swiftly? Only time will tell.