Xander Schauffele

Unless you’re a devoted follower of golf, you probably have no idea about the identity of Xander Schauffele.

You’re probably having difficulty pronouncing his name.

Phonetically, it’s Zander Shoff-lee.

Xander Schauffele, an American golf pro from San Diego has been one of the more quiet, but classy tour professionals. He is 30. His mother was born in Taiwan and grew up in Japan.

His father is German. The two met in San Diego and that’s where they got married.

Xander Schauffele was a double champion last week in my opinion.

The obvious one was the way he came up big, shooting a remarkable 31 on the back nine at legendary Royal Toronto in Scotland to capture the 2024 British Open.

We call it the British Open, but in the world of golf it’s simply known as The Open.

It was the fourth and final major of the season and Schauffele won half of them, including the PGA title earlier this year.

But it was his comments in support of Tiger Woods that earned him another crown in my book.

Woods once again struggled mightily, and amid calls that he should retire, Schauffele backed the great Tiger.

Veteran Colin Montgomerie, the 61-year old Scot who had a distinguished career and still plays in senior and European tournaments, wondered out loud why Woods is still playing.

Monty said, “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was. There is none of that now. There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go.”

Schauffele came right back at Montgomery and declared, “Selfishly, I want him to play as long as possible. It just helps all of the guys out here, just with the amount of eyeballs that someone like Tiger Woods brings to golf”.

Yes, it was a nightmare outing at The Open. The 15-time major champion, posted a two day total 14-over par and missed the cut for the third straight time in a major.

He’s failed to finish six of eight majors he’s entered since his horrific auto accident in 2021.

There’s no question Tiger Woods is a mere shell of what he once was.

I believe he knows it as well as anybody. I think when Woods enters a tournament, and they are few and far between these days, there are many who resent his stated intention to  win the event at the start.

What is he supposed to say and think when he decides to play?

Is he supposed to say and think he would be satisfied to merely make the cut?

Is he supposed to say and think he would be happy not to just not embarrass himself?

Who are we to suggest Tiger Woods should no longer compete?

Who are we to suggest anyone should retire.

Whatever reason Tiger continues to play in the majors and other tournaments of his choice, he has his reasons.  Perhaps he is feeling stronger and more able to walk the courses and endure the possibility of four days of play.

If you’re a weekend golfer, and you are playing badly in your eyes, and not enjoying hitting errant shots, do you not still go out and give it a go? Maybe your fortunes will turn around. There’s always that hope. Who tells you to quit the game and never play again?

Tiger Woods, obviously has much higher standards, and whatever they are, he is aware of what he hopes and thinks he can accomplish.

There is another aspect, the one touched on by Xander Schauffele.

Tigers Woods’ presence, and what it means to observers.

I remember when he went attended the two practice days prior to the Masters a few years ago.

We sat in the stands behind the practice range where all the competitors would hit with various clubs.

When Tiger Woods came out to hit, the crowd immediately turned their attention to him as he proceeded to hit a medium iron, one after another, for nearly a half hour.

It’s not that he was a strong contender to win another major, hardly.

But he was Tiger Woods and that was enough.

I remember what Joe DiMaggio, the legendary and celebrated Yankee great decades ago said when someone asked him why he was still playing when he was diminished at the tail-end of his monumental career.

DiMaggio said, “there may be someone out there who has never seen me play and never will again who wants to watch me”.

Tiger Woods, 48,  knows what he can still do and not do as a pro golfer.

He has a son, Charlie, who he is guiding to try to follow in his footsteps.

Personally, I want Tiger to continue at any level he plays. I enjoy watching him perform.

I guess Xander Schauffele feels the same. That’s why he was so outspoken in respect to this once-great pro.

And that’s why I salute Schauffele for not only playing his best when it counted to win his second major championship, but for making his feelings known about an icon of his sport, that we are still privileged to watch.

In a final look back at the Open, the triumph by Schauffele, one  who golf fans know as a familiar contender for many tour events overshadowed strong challengers who came from nowhere to have a decent chance to win the coveted Claret Jug that is awarded the champion.

For awhile, Daniel Brown, a Brit, who never competed in a major was tied for second after the second round. No one expected a break-out tournament from Brown who eventually faded but had his moments.

The same for South African Thriston Lawrence, who had only mostly played on the European Tour. Lawrence came in ranked 98th in the world and finished fourth behind Schauffele, only three shots back.

Then there was Justin Rose, hoping to end a 32-year old wait for an English winner of his country’s crowning championship, choked back tears after falling short, only two strokes behind Schauffele, winding up in a tie for second place.

What about the usual stars of the game?

Yes, the world’s best, Scottie Scheffler gave it a fight, ending in a tie for 7th, but one-over-par for the four rounds, but where was Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas? Where have they gone?

Not to mention John Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and yes, Rory McIlroy.

I love where pro golf is today.

It’s keep up or you’ll be passed by.

It seems we see it all the time.

It’s a good thing.