In his post-round interview, Xander Schauffele was direct to the point of being almost unresponsive.
“It’s only Thursday. That’s all there is to it.” he said.
Please pardon Schauffele for acting as though he just scored 72 when he downplayed his opening round 9-under 62 at Valhalla Golf Club. The round was historic, even, and really spectacular. Though it was just the fourth 62 in the history of major championships, Schauffele is no stranger to this. In the first round of the U.S. Open at The Los Angeles Country Club the previous year, he shot 62. What matters more to him is that he placed 10th, seven strokes behind Wyndham Clark.
Schauffele has advanced well past the point where one can only admire his achievements, particularly those that come with a first-round outcome. Heck, he’s likely to brush off the accolades unless it involves a trophy-holding Sunday night celebration. Call it self-preservation, scar tissue, or a remarkable ability to remain in the present, but Schauffele isn’t interested in soliloquies about a record 18 holes or Thursday hyperbole.
You only need to look back four days to see why. When the Wells Fargo Championship came down to the final round, Schauffele was ahead of Rory McIlroy by one stroke. Through seven, the advantage increased to two shots. Schauffele needed to win by just 11 holes to record his first victory in two years. Then followed the assault that Schauffele was unable to counter. After playing the next eight holes in eight under par, McIlroy effectively eliminated Schauffele.
For Schauffele, who consistently puts himself in contention due to his talent, it has become an all too familiar experience. Even though he is the guy in the ring, he is continually losing. The outcome of the fallout from Wells Fargo was expected; after every near win, the discourse always drifted to the same place. Schauffele was continually being sorrounded by noise.Is his lack of success an indication of an innate incapacity to close? Or is it just a case of poor breaks that a player who regularly puts himself in position to win is bound to experience? This season, Schauffele has participated in four final round pairings on the PGA TOUR, more than any other player save Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler boasts four victories. Schauffele is devoid of them. In one of those occasions, Scheffler overcame Schaueffele, shooting a 64 in the final round to win THE PLAYERS Championship by one stroke over Schauffele’s 70.
Schauffele (12) has more top 10s in majors without a victory than anyone else except Rickie Fowler (13). Furthermore, Schauffele consistently positions himself in the center of these discussions. Among players who have participated in at least 25 major league tournaments, he has the lowest lifetime first-round scoring average in major championship competition. Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy are the other three players in the top five who have won multiple majors.
So forgive Schauffele for trying to be sneaky. He’s performed this song and dance far too often. There was no ignorance that Thursday was going to be anything more than a strong first blow.
“A major event is off to a terrific start. One that I will undoubtedly always take.”Schauffele said.
Schauffele’s record is comparable to that of a significant victor. He also believes he plays a decent enough game. On Thursday, Schauffele played the role perfectly, going bogey-free. He birdied so many holes that Schauffele’s final two holes of the day, Nos. 8 and 9, were the first to record back-to-back pars.
“As strange as it may sound, I believe that losing makes you want to win even more. At least for me, it causes me to respond, wanting it more and more and more, which motivates me to work even harder and more. I feel like I have a lot of work ahead of me and that the summit is far away. But simply working on it little by little.”Schauffele said.
The pursuit of victory might occasionally feel like a war you’re fighting against yourself and your past mistakes. If you can merely strive to be a better person than you were the day before, the results will follow. That’s certainly true in the long term, and Schauffele acknowledged on Thursday that he was probably playing some of his best golf of the year.
“There are bursts, or intervals of time when you feel as though you have excellent ball control, green perception, and chipping ability. However, maintaining high performance over an extended length of time is difficult. Indeed, if that’s not it, I’d say it’s rather near to it.” Schauffele said.
And if he’s competing in several majors and winning seven times on the TOUR, the breakthrough must be close at hand. However, the variables during the following three days go well beyond Schauffele and his problems.
There is the golf course first. Schauffle portrayed a peaceful, windless, and gentle Valhalla that was unable to bare its teeth due to early-week rains that neutralized its threats. In addition to Schauffele’s 62, there were two 65s, two 66s, and an abundance of 67s and 68s. Sixty-two players started the round below par, breaking the record established by the PGA Championship in 2006 at Medinah Country Club for the most beginning rounds below par (60).
And then some of those scores have names associated with them. Sahith Theegala and Tony Finau are 6-under, both top 30 players. McIlroy and Koepka, the two greatest players of the past ten years, are at 5-under and 4-under, respectively. Max Homa, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith, Bryson Dechambeau, and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler are all lurking at 3-under.
If Schauffele’s performance on Thursday was anything less than a fantastic beginning, it would be an insult to those who remain behind and the wounds he still has to heal. That’s all it is for the time being; it’s a terrific start. Schauffele is looking for an outstanding result.
