Defying the odds, Xander Schauffele has made a strong comeback from injury during the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Even though he was tied at the 40th spot, Schauffele’s optimism remained unscathed. He successfully maintained his streak of making the cut, and concluded the tournament on a high note, scoring three under par in the last round.
Schauffele, holding the second position globally, was aware that returning to the sport at Bay Hill after his injury would be challenging. The reality turned out to be no different. However, he confirmed his participation in The Players event the following week, taking away valuable lessons and most importantly, experiencing no physical discomfort.
Post his final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, an upbeat Schauffele updated the media about his injury. His sense of accomplishment was palpable on successfully navigating through the weekend. “That’s probably the biggest win of the week,” Schauffele confessed. He admitted to taking a gamble by participating in the tournament without much playtime post his injury. Despite the risks, he was content with his performance and health. “All scans were clean, but super happy with how I feel. Definitely, with the added golf didn’t feel any strain or any worse, so that’s a big bonus,” he expressed.
Schauffele’s focus now shifts to The Players, as he aims to further enhance his game. The seasoned golfer emphasized the importance of getting as much playtime as possible. His caddie Austin cautioned him about the difficulties of making a comeback at such a challenging venue. Schauffele, however, was happy to make the cut and complete four rounds of play without any discomfort.
Speaking about his mental approach to the game, Schauffele said, “I’m trying to convince myself to be in a good spot mentally regardless. I can’t sit all year long and feel sorry for myself like, oh, you know, I’m just rusty, I haven’t played. That stuff doesn’t matter in any sport, so it is what it is, and I’m going to have to sort of pick up the pace.”
Schauffele’s return to golf at Bay Hill was not a walk in the park. The gusty winds and hard greens posed a challenge to all the participants. For Schauffele, the challenge was twofold due to his recent return from injury and lack of play. He confessed that Bay Hill is one of the toughest golf courses.
“There’s a few shots where you don’t get those any other time of the year,” he stated, citing the vast water bodies and intimidating greens as some of the daunting characteristics of the course. Despite the hurdles, Schauffele hopes to perform better at The Players. However, given the tough nature of TPC Sawgrass, he is prepared for a similar challenge before he is back in full form.