Xander Schauffele arrives at the Valspar Championship in strong competitive form, but with a very clear reflection on the biggest obstacle he has had to overcome in recent months: the mental one. The American, a two-time major champion and Olympic gold medallist, spoke at the tournament preview, making headlines with comments about his game, his recovery from injury and his view of the Tour
Schauffele lands at Innisbrook after finishing third last week, albeit with mixed feelings. The player himself admits he experienced two very different sides during the tournament: “I felt virtually unstoppable the first two days. Then I had a strange Saturday and also a strange Sunday for much of the day, but I managed to salvage a good finish over the final holes”
That close allowed him to finish in a notable position, though with the feeling of having let a bigger opportunity slip: “It would have been nice to be more in the mix, but I have no complaints”
Ahead of the Valspar, the Californian feels comfortable on a course he knows well and that demands precisely what he values most: control and patience. The Copperhead Course doesn’t allow excess: “It’s a course where you need your approach shots to be very precise. It’s a battle of positioning. If you’re out of position, it’s easy to get aggressive and force shots, but often that’s not the best way to play here”
The layout at Innisbrook, narrow off the tee and with demanding greens, once again presents itself as a full test, where long game and strategy make the difference. However, beyond the technical analysis, the main headline from his appearance came when he was asked about his return from injury. Schauffele did not hesitate to say that the biggest challenge was not physical: “Probably my brain. Beyond the rib area, the hardest part was my head. Doubts come up, certain things get into your mind. You take health for granted when you have it and, when you lose it, everything changes”
The American explained that regaining competitive confidence was a longer process than expected: “It took me a while to feel comfortable competing again. You never expect to get injured, and learning from that was tough”
With more than 200 tournaments under his belt on the PGA Tour, Schauffele also reflected on his evolution as a player. At 32, he is starting to see himself in a different position within the Tour: “I’m starting to feel like one of the veterans. When I arrived on the Tour there were more players in their 30s and 40s. Now it’s a younger Tour, and that makes you realise you have to stay healthy and keep competing”
Despite everything, one thing hasn’t changed: his passion for competing. “I still love playing golf. If I’m home for two or three weeks, I start to miss being here” Schauffele also referred to possible changes on the PGA Tour following recent meetings with the players. He preferred to be cautious and patient regarding the reforms under consideration: “There are a lot of things to take into account. It’s not easy to make changes that affect everyone and last for decades. We’ve been asked for patience and trust, and that’s what’s required now”
In the immediate term, the focus is on the Valspar. A demanding tournament, at a point in the season packed with competition — his seventh event in eight weeks — in which Schauffele is looking to take another step. Because if anything has been made clear, beyond the level of play, everything starts in the head. And there, right now, he feels he is ready to compete for real again
