Renowned golfer Xander Schauffele’s rebound from a rib injury hasn’t been smooth sailing, as evidenced by his underwhelming performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational a fortnight ago. His recent struggles were further highlighted at The Players Championship last weekend when he finished last among the 72 participants who qualified for the final cut.
Despite the odds, Schauffele’s performance at the Thursday round of the Valspar Championship was commendable, if not entirely convincing. According to some experts, his score, though impressive, only masked another lackluster performance.
Schauffele’s round at the Valspar Championship was closely watched by former PGA Tour player Dennis Paulson, who found the world number three’s performance rather “wild”. Paulson, the victor of the 2000 Buick Classic (now known as FedEx St. Jude Championship), observed that despite ending the day in the top 20, Schauffele’s game was far from its usual tight, consistent performance.
Paulson expressed his concern over Schauffele’s game, stating, “I didn’t see it really, yet. There were a lot of wild ones. To be perfectly truthful with you, there were some really poor shots from Xander today. Nothing was very tight.”
He did, however, appreciate Schauffele’s scoring ability, noting, “He got a round out of it. He could easily have been two or three over from where he hit it. He should have been out of bounds on the par five. I think it hit the roof and then hit the OB fence and came back in and he ended up making a birdie there.” Paulson was particularly alarmed by some of Schauffele’s shots, which he found uncharacteristically wild.
Yet, it might be premature to write off Schauffele’s recent performances as a downward trajectory. His 2025 season has indeed been fraught with challenges. After ending up 30th at The Sentry in January, he was absent from the greens for two months. Upon his return, he placed 30th at Bay Hill and 72nd at TPC Sawgrass – a stark contrast to his usual impressive play.
However, the highly competitive nature of the PGA Tour means even the most seasoned players can experience temporary setbacks. Any small inconsistency can lead to a tumble down the leaderboard, as Schauffele’s recent experiences attest.
Despite his ongoing struggles, it’s important to remember that Schauffele is the same player who clinched the PGA Championship title. His current form may be wanting, but it shouldn’t be surprising if he bounces back to defend his title at Quail Hollow in May.
So, while his performance at the upcoming Valspar Championship and the Masters may be a cause for concern, it’s too soon to count out Schauffele. After all, in the ever-unpredictable world of golf, a champion’s resurgence is just a swing away.
