Xander Schauffele sat down for an interview with the PGA TOUR’s Ben Everill. Schauffele spoke about how he wants to become one of the household names in golf by finishing his tournaments in the lead rather than coming from behind.
“If I just would be in contention more, that would be awesome … The way I look at it and the way my team looks at it, I haven’t really done a whole lot,” Schauffele said.
It’s clear Schauffele can take constructive criticism from even the closest people to him, such as his father:
It’s a little bit harsh, but it’s just sort of how I’m judged at certain times by either my dad or people on my team that give me advice, and it’s true at times.”
The 2017 Rookie of the Year has a habit of being the “dark horse pick” by the media when it comes to winning tournaments, so it’s clear he’s noticed the narrative and wants to change it. It’s simple really: get a 54 hole lead…and keep it.
“In order for me to become more of an elite player and more of an established name I think it would be important for me to sort of play to what I know I can do at certain times versus trying to be the come‑from‑behind kid,” Schauffele said. He also added, “I don’t mind coming from behind, it’s plenty easy and more comfortable than trying to sleep on what I would imagine to be a 54‑hole lead.”
It makes you wonder since Schauffele has come from behind in almost every tournament he’s won, if Schauffele could get used to the night before sleep of having a 54 hole lead to win. During his win at the World Golf Championships–HSBC Champions in China, he over came a 2-shot deficit. Schauffele also overcame an astounding 5-shot deficit in his win at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Either way you look at it, Xander is one of the top prospects in golf to have a good run this season with the potential to even string together a few wins in a row. It remains to be seen if he can peak at the right time to do it.
h/t: pgatour.com
