Xander Schauffele admits he had ‘chip on shoulder’ before landing first major

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After Xander Schauffele shot a remarkable score of 62 in the first round of the 106th US PGA Championship, many people began to make humorous comments.

On social media, numerous posts were made about Schauffele's performance, with one common theme being his tendency to come in second instead of first. People were speculating if his current game would change this trend.

After three days, it was Schauffele who emerged victorious as he won his first major title with a great performance at Valhalla. He led the tournament from start to finish and set a new record total of 21 under par.

Schauffele's victory was an excellent way to shut down those who doubted him. Despite the tension, he remained composed and managed to secure a birdie on the final hole, preventing the need for a tie-breaker with Bryson DeChambeau, who also successfully made a birdie moments before.

Only a week later, Schauffele faced another setback when he was unable to win the Wells Fargo Championship from a leading position after three rounds. This only added to the criticism he had received before, where people had doubts about his ability to finish tournaments strong.

Schauffele acknowledged that the sensation of being on the verge of danger too frequently, including just last week, eventually affects one's emotions.

This victory is exceptionally satisfying for me, because winning in any context always feels good. Even though it's a significant championship, the feeling of triumph is unparalleled.

When questioned about the impact of his almost wins, Schauffele stated that it had certainly left a feeling of resentment.

You lot are inquiring about stuff and I'm obligated to respond. It's relatively simpler for me to answer with this object [Wanamaker Trophy] beside me, as you can probably discern.

"It serves as a source of motivation to me, like adding gasoline to a fire. This has continuously been the case growing up and particularly in the lead-up to this point."

Schauffele hadn't won a tournament since achieving a remarkable feat in 2022 by triumphing in three consecutive events, which were the Travelers Championship held in the US, the JP McManus Pro-Am tournament hosted in Ireland, and the Genesis Scottish Open.

After 54 rounds at Valhalla, Schauffele was tied with Collin Morikawa. He appeared to be on his way to victory as he reached the halfway point with a two-shot advantage. However, he stumbled on the par-five 10th hole, earning a bogey, while Viktor Hovland netted a birdie on the 12th hole in a different group.

To be wholly truthful, an individual like me who hasn't attained victory for two years has experimented with almost everything," stated Schauffele.

I usually avoid checking the leaderboards until the latter part of my game. In fact, I refrain from doing so early on and as much as possible. However, on this occasion, I gave in and checked them all throughout the day.

I had a strong desire to experience every emotion fully. I aimed to confront and acknowledge all the emotions that I was currently experiencing.

Hovland made a birdie on the 13th hole, putting him in first place. Schauffele found out about this when he was preparing to putt for a birdie on the 11th hole. This was not good news for him.

"I believed I was winning, but when I checked the leaderboard, I saw that Viktor had scored 19 points (under par), and that put me in a position where I had to catch up. I realized that the upcoming putt was very crucial for the tournament," recounted Schauffele.

After successfully converting the putt, Schauffele also achieved a birdie on the 12th hole and continued his winning streak with another on the 18th hole. This was made possible by an impressive second shot from a difficult position in a bunker on the fairway. In the end, these incredible moves sealed the deal for his dramatic victory.

The achievement propelled the individual from San Diego, who is currently 30 years old, to the second position in the world rankings. This success is expected to guarantee that he will have the opportunity to safeguard his Olympic championship during the upcoming event in Paris.

Schauffele expressed his delight, saying it was the icing on the cake. He had set his sights on qualifying for the US team, as it is a challenging feat. The team comprises of exceptional players, and it's not an easy task to secure a position.

I suppose that with this victory, I most likely have guaranteed my spot in the Olympics. However, succeeding in the Olympics is a much greater challenge. Nevertheless, I will certainly be able to draw some assurance from this achievement.