World Number 2 Xander Schauffele, a golfer who always delivers on his promises, has offered thrilling news to his fans. After an extended break due to a rib injury, he’s announced his imminent return to the greens. Schauffele has been missing from the golf scene since his last appearance in the TGL for the New York Golf Club. The match against the Bay Golf Club ended with a disappointing 2-9 loss for Schauffele’s team and a missed chip shot turned the crowd against him.
The last time fans saw Schauffele in a full round of golf was during the Sentry in Hawaii, held at the Kapalua Plantation Course at the start of the year. His performance was modest, scoring 17 under par over the four days. However, the rib injury, an acute intercostal strain, was already hampering Schauffele by then. This health setback ultimately led the two-time Major winner to take a hiatus from the sport.
In a conversation with Golfweek, Schauffele revealed the severity of the injury, “I thought I’d be fine and kept going and played through it at Sentry and at the first TGL match. I was pretty much tapped. I knew it was getting significantly worse and needed time off.” During his absence, Schauffele missed eight PGA Tour events, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational.
Now, the 2024 PGA Championship winner is set to make a comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the year’s third signature event. His aim is to gain much-needed practice before the Masters. “I want to get as many reps under the belt before the Masters. It would be nice to get the competitive blood flowing a few times before going into a really big event,” Schauffele stated.
He had earlier hinted at a possible return at Bay Hill, but now he has officially committed to the tournament. This announcement was confirmed by @TheTodaysGolfer, stating that Schauffele has COMMITTED to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
His eyes are also set on the Players Championship, a significant event scheduled a week later at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. With a grand prize of $25 million, the event will serve as a rigorous test for Schauffele before the Masters.
However, fans will not have to wait a whole week to see Schauffele swing his club again. He’s slated to make his competitive return at the TGL this Monday for his team, the New York Golf Club. The last match saw the New York Golf Club narrowly lose in overtime to the Los Angeles Golf Club, but this week, Schauffele will be in the thick of the action instead of in the stands.
The stakes are high as Schauffele gears up to play in the crucial playoff-decider between the New York Golf Club and the Boston Common Golf at the SoFi Center in Florida. He will join Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young on the field, while Matt Fitzpatrick stays on the sidelines. The New York Golf Club is poised for the final round where they’re competing for the final playoff spot against Boston and Tiger Woods’s Jupiter Links Golf Club.
A victory would secure New York Golf Club’s spot in the final four. Even an overtime loss could edge out Boston Common Golf, but this would open a window for Jupiter Links Golf Club to surpass them with a commanding win over Atlanta Drive.
With Schauffele’s return, it’s evident that the New York-based team is set to challenge Rory McIlroy‘s Boston and go for the win. Will Schauffele’s awaited return lead New York to the playoffs? Only time will tell. Stay tuned to find out if Xander Schauffele can truly deliver on his promise to fans after his positive TGL appearance.
