Xander Schauffele, a shining star of last year’s PGA Tour, has had a rocky start to the current season due to an unexpected rib injury. However, recent revelations suggest that the golfing prodigy may be making a comeback sooner than anticipated. This is according to posts made by Dan Rapaport via his X account, which have hinted at Schauffele’s imminent return to the green next week.
Rapaport, who took to social media to share the news, revealed that Schauffele is eyeing his comeback to coincide with the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “Xander Schauffele says he is ‘hopeful’ to return to competition at next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational,” Rapaport was quoted as saying, adding that a decision will be made later this week.
Schauffele, the two-time Majors winner from last season, had high hopes for an equally successful run this year. Unfortunately, injuries have posed an early hindrance to his aspirations. Nevertheless, the season has just taken off and the 31-year-old golfer still has a wealth of opportunities before him.
Schauffele, who currently holds the world number 2 position, recently opened up about the severity of his injury in a conversation with Golfweek. He underscored his intention to be in the best possible shape for the Masters, an event that holds significant importance for both golfers and fans alike.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational has been marked by Schauffele as a potential checkpoint for his return. “Taking the Genesis off gives me three weeks leading into Bay Hill. I want to get as many reps under the belt before the Masters,” he said, expressing his desire to get back into competitive mode before the big event. He also mentioned the upcoming Players.
Schauffele’s optimism towards the injury wasn’t quite met with the expected outcome. Despite an initial belief that the injury was not serious, he soon found himself unfit to commence the season. The golf superstar played at The Sentry and the TGL match but was compelled to take a break thereafter to regain his fitness levels.
Majors have always been a focal point for Schauffele, his previous year’s success in the category only fueling his hunger for more. As fans and the golfing world await his return, it’s clear that Schauffele has his sights set firmly on the Majors. Whether the coming weeks will see him teeing off at the Arnold Palmer Invitational remains to be seen.