On the heels of a lukewarm start to his 2025 PGA Tour journey, popular golfing figure Xander Schauffele drops a bombshell, revealing the costly mistake he’s been making that goes against the advice of his father.
Schauffele, who has three starts under his belt this year, has witnessed a downward trend in his performance. His recent showing at the Players Championship saw him finish at a disappointing 72nd position. He had pinned his hopes on J.J. Spaun to clinch the top spot, but Spaun fell short against Rory McIlroy in a playoff duel. McIlroy, however, secured his second PGA Tour title of the season at TPC Sawgrass by beating Spaun in a three-hole playoff.
Earlier in the year, Schauffele had notched up T30 and T40 finishes at the Sentry and Arnold Palmer Invitational respectively. His form has raised eyebrows among golf enthusiasts and analysts, with Ron Sirak expressing uncertainty about what lies ahead for Schauffele as the Masters, set to take place at Augusta National next month, looms.
In an attempt to explain his recent struggles, Schauffele pointed out his excessive focus on the aesthetics of his swing, something his father had warned him about. He confessed, “I think I’ve gotten a little too nitpicky on swinging the club correctly and trying to get back in a good pattern when I was playing really good golf.” Essentially, he’s been trying to visually perfect his swing instead of reacting naturally to the ball – a distraction that has led him astray from his game.
Despite a rib injury hindering his commitment to the early 2025 schedule, Schauffele remains in the limelight as he is set to lead the field at the upcoming Valspar Championship. His journey thus far, he admits, has been a “mixed bag”, marked by inconsistency and a feeling of constantly studying and adjusting his game instead of just playing it.
Schauffele, who recorded victories at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in 2025, is now shifting his focus towards the Masters. The tournament, won by Scheffler for the second time last year, is a major highlight of the season. Schauffele had finished eighth at the last outing at Augusta National, trailing the champion by 10 shots and Ludvig Aberg by four.
As the major tournament approaches, Schauffele unveiled his short-term schedule, featuring appearances at the Valspar Championship, Texas Children’s Houston Open, and Valero Texas Open before the Masters. He acknowledged the demanding nature of the Masters and Augusta National, expressing his desire to improve his tournament golf before the major event.
Reflecting on his career, Schauffele also admitted that he’s not among the few golfers who have participated in 12 events and won several. He’s saving that milestone for later in his career, he quipped. As he gears up for the upcoming tournaments, his fans and followers eagerly await to see if he can rectify the mistake he’s been making and bring his game back on track.