It’s the Sunday before the Masters Tournament. April 6th. There’s more hustle and bustle than usual. The traditional drive, chip and putt competition is taking place. The appetizer for the grand feast. Children everywhere. Fists in the air, nervous laughter, furrowed brows, and even a few shouts, not many, mind you, as the kids are well instructed before entering Augusta National.
Suddenly, around the 10th hole, near the putting green, silence falls. Perhaps a murmur, a gentle nudge between friends, the flash of a camera that only comes out for the Masters. Not much else. Xander Schauffele is passing by. He’s on his way to the tee for his first practice round of the week. Nine holes.
A year ago, there was no silence when Schauffele passed by, and rarely was there a nudge between friends. He would likely have gone unnoticed, except for a few autograph hunters or his cousins from Germany.
If we could subtitle the murmurs, they would say something like: “Look, it’s Schauffele, or however you say it, the latest Major winner. Last year he won two.” The silence around him is one of respect and anticipation. He’s no longer just another player in the global golf circus. Now he’s a contender for victory. The million-dollar question is whether he truly is a contender, due to his two victories in the PGA and the Open, or if we should put an asterisk next to his name because of his 2025 season hampered by a rib injury that has so far prevented him from regaining his best form.
Schauffele is oblivious to all that is said and thought around him. He simply tees off at the 10th and enjoys the new views. The fall of many trees caused by the last great storm in Augusta makes the landscape very different at this point, much more open. You can see almost half the course. Different. A delight.
This new horizon can be appreciated by any fan who has been to Augusta before. What is only within reach of well-trained eyes is what can be seen to the left of that tee. It’s what Schauffele looks at the most. He talks about it with his caddie. They take notes. The storm has created a new gap that didn’t exist before. “It’s risky, but you can go that way,” he assures. It’s perhaps the biggest novelty on the course. A traditionally draw shot, but with a lot of draw, now offers a different possibility for the bravest.
Schauffele hits the ball with the driver. It’s not the same one from the Valspar, nor from THE PLAYERS, nor from Bay Hill. He’s returned to last year’s model. “I needed stability and confidence, and I’m lacking repetitions due to the injury to get used to the new club, with the new head. I haven’t had time. I preferred to play it safe this week. I feel better,” he states. This decision is part of the new psychological and emotional armour that Schauffele proudly displays. He is an empowered player.
It’s true that his start to 2025 hasn’t been the best. He carries a 30th place at the Sentry, 40th at the Arnold Palmer, 72nd at THE PLAYERS, and 12th at the Valspar. He has made all the cuts to keep his extraordinary streak alive (60), but he hasn’t been in contention to win any week. He maintains that he needs more repetitions, but he has no doubt that he’s in Augusta to win the Masters. Answering the title of this article, what are we going to do with Schauffele, nothing less than consider him one of the top favourites.
Doubting him at this point would be at least daring. Schauffele is now in another dimension in world golf. His two victories in the PGA and the Open give him a different status. He believes it and says it with conviction. “If I’m healthy, I know I can do very well, and I haven’t had any setbacks with the rib since I came back, nor have I thought about it again. People can say what they want, I believe I can win,” he states firmly.
Last year’s two majors give power. It’s the power of knowing you can do it, and that’s more valuable than anything else. It allows you to win a Major, even without being at one hundred percent of your capabilities. That’s where Schauffele is right now, and where others like Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, or Scottie Scheffler are. “Before winning the PGA last year, every time I had a chance to win a Major and didn’t, I thought: you’re far away, you have to work much harder. After winning the PGA, I realized it was a lie. I was much closer than I thought, but unfortunately, you only realize it after winning,” he assures. Schauffele is very clear that he’s very close, and that’s why he even jokes with journalists when they remind him of some negative stats: “Did you know that Justin Hastings (an amateur playing the Masters for the first time) has broken all your records at San Jose State University?” “Thank you very much, really, just knowing that is what I needed for my confidence,” Xander replied with a laugh, like the children in the drive, chip and putt.
The smile of utmost self-confidence. Of course, we have to count on Schauffele this week, or however you say it.
