Xander Schauffele believed in himself long before his recent PGA Championship victory at Valhalla Golf Club. After years of near-misses, he finally clinched his first major, solidifying his place among golf’s elite.
Schauffele, often dubbed the ‘best-player-never-to-win-a-major’, always maintained a positive outlook. He said, ‘I believe in positive self-talk. I will tell myself, I’ll speak to myself. I just kept doing it. When you believe something enough, it’ll happen.’
Prior to his win, Schauffele had 12 top-10 finishes in majors but had never sealed the deal. Entering the final round at Valhalla tied for the lead, he faced the pressure head-on. Despite a recent setback at the Wells Fargo Championship, where Rory McIlroy outplayed him in the final round, Schauffele stayed focused. On Sunday, he delivered a stellar 65, making crucial up-and-downs on the last two holes to edge out Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke.
This victory was not just about the trophy for Schauffele. He got a significant text from Tiger Woods, who has experienced the highs and lows of golf himself. Schauffele shared on GOLF’s Subpar podcast, ‘He texted me, ya know, and I think he is right; he’s been through it all himself. But he texted me something along the lines of,
You know, all those times you were close, I think that hardened you for this moment … and I’m proud of you. It’s incredible. I couldn’t be more proud of you.
That was an awesome text I got from T-Dub.’
For Schauffele, this win is just the beginning. He described the experience as addictive, saying, ‘It’s just like a drug. You just wanna keep having that feeling. I think my favorite feeling in golf is to be in the hunt, regardless of the outcome or the result. That rush you feel when you are in contention coming down the stretch is why I love playing golf and why I love sport in general.’
Schauffele’s journey to his first major win was full of close calls and learning experiences. Now, with the confidence from his recent victory and the encouragement from Woods, he’s poised to chase more titles. The excitement of being in contention drives him, and he looks forward to more thrilling finishes in the future.
Xander Schauffele’s breakthrough at the PGA Championship marks a significant milestone in his career. With positive reinforcement from legends like Tiger Woods, Schauffele is more motivated than ever to continue his pursuit of greatness in the sport.
Source: Golf
