How the major champ was built

Xander Schauffele says it’s his instinct to be a day-to-day guy. To stay in your cave, to be a stalactite, to keep dripping water on the stone, believing something will eventually happen. He avoids looking too far ahead — or spending too much time in the past. That’s what comes naturally. But sometimes it’s worth looking back to learn from past mistakes. And other times it’s worth looking back to appreciate what you’ve accomplished. To appreciate the way you solved one tiny little mystery on the driving range and then another on the course and another inside your mind and then suddenly you stacked one good day on top of another, chipped away at one mystery at a time, and, when it mattered the most, you solved them in real time, and now everything is different.

On a placid, sunny morning just before the turn of the New Year, I sat with Schauffele on the back patio at Dutchman’s Pipe, a new West Palm Beach-area golf club. We watched a threesome tee off No. 1 — one dribbler, one slice, one baby fade right down the fairway — and then dived into his best golfing year yet.

The interview has been shortened and lightly edited for clarity. You can watch it on YouTube here or below.

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Dylan Dethier: I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to check in with you at the end of the best golf season of your life. Is that fair to say?

Xander Schauffele: So far, yeah. Absolutely. Best season of my career.

DD: Do you feel different now than you did this time last year?

XS: More accomplished, sure. Do I feel different sitting here talking to you now? No. I mean, I feel like me, fortunately. Same guy.

DD: How does that sense of accomplishment translate to the rest of your life? Are you happier? Are you more satisfied? More confident?

XS: Satisfied, for sure. I don’t feel more confident, but I would have to be. Going into the next spot in a major, I’d imagine I’m going to be much more confident. I said that after the PGA. Putting myself in a position would be exciting and knowing that I’ve done it is going to give me a load of confidence. And then clipping my second major at the Open shortly after, that was sort of how I felt. [The PGA] was only one, but it was a huge one for me to get over the hump. And it really paid off and I wouldn’t have gotten the second one if it wasn’t for the first, obviously, in that fashion.

DD: What’s the bigger difference? Zero to one [major] or one to two?

XS: Zero to one. Huge monkey off the back. And then in my head, I never envisioned myself as — it was a life goal, obviously, but I was always sort of wanting to chum for more and just keep pushing. So it just needed to be done and it was nice to grasp it.

DD: I know that some of [winning] is just randomness. Bites at the apple. But was the difference between you being close to winning and ultimately winning more mental or physical? And I guess by physical, I mean your golf swing. Technical.

XS: It’s always a combination of both. You’re going to run the way you run based on the positions you’ve put yourself in. I felt like it was important to put myself in that spot as many times as possible, and that’s still how I view it, and then we’ll see where the cards fall at the end of the day. But it was definitely a combination of getting the swing in a better spot, getting a little bit stronger and then you tag in a little bit more self-belief. All those things kind of came together.

DD: Looking back, what stands out from [2024] in terms of individual moments? When you flash back to the PGA or you flash back to the Open, what belongs to you from those days and those accomplishments?

XS: I’m more of a process guy. A lot of stuff that people don’t talk about is what I will take with me. Being able to just relentlessly work at what I was trying to do throughout the season. Really lucky and fortunate for it to click and then to run with it, that’s the fun part of my job. The winning is an awesome thing to share and it really is that stamp of validation. But for me the fun is in those weird moments where you’re on your own or with your team and your head’s in the mud. I like those moments. I like when you’re sitting there and you have to work; it gives you a real purpose waking up. After you’ve won a tournament, it’s more of a reflection thing. But when you’re in the thick of it is when I feel the most drive to keep going.

DD: When you’re in the thick of it, is it satisfying to make the solve, to find those little breakthrough moments? To work in a swing thought or a new feel? Or do you like when there’s a problem you haven’t solved yet?

XS: Yeah, a little bit of that. I’d say when there’s a problem we haven’t solved and you believe in the advice that’s given and it’s still really not clicking at first and then you just have to keep going, and it’s kind of scary because there’s a little bit of this unknown factor. That’s the spice of life for me. Because you’re like, ‘I don’t know what’s going to come out of this at the end. I do believe it.’ But there’s this little voice in the back of your head that’s like, ‘Is this right? This doesn’t feel right.’

And it may not be right, but you keep telling yourself that it’s right. That’s the driving factor to keep going and keep pushing and keep pushing and keep pushing. And then the winning is the result in the end. And it’s an awesome thing to share. But that weird unknown territory I think is a lot of fun.

DD: Is there any letdown that comes now that you’ve won majors?

XS: It’s only two. I know it’s a really big deal and I’m definitely not taking it for granted. But I’d say the most important thing I’m trying to get my head to focus on is not walking into any spot with the wrong expectation. I want myself to expect to win, but at the same time, I don’t want to let that hinder the preparation process, getting my head in the right space, working with my team, the sit-downs, the awareness, all those things that help me get to where I got this year. When you’re sitting close to the top, it’s easy to forget how you got there. And so I want to really make sure I don’t lose sight of that.

DD: It seems like your goals have been so process-oriented. Do you have result goals? Does your lifetime career goal now go from wanting to win three majors to wanting to win 10? Do you jump ahead at all in terms of what you want to have in your pocket at the end? Or you try not to?

XS: I try not to. I will write down specific goals. There’s obviously the big ones on paper that you’ll write down and you’ll look at and then you tuck away and then either check it off or you don’t. But there’s a lot of process goals. I’m such a day-to-day guy. My wife’s a planner; I’m not, I’m not someone that’s going to sit here and, you know, think about all the things I need to do in three months. I’m really trying to win the day. And I think if you can win as many days as you can and stack up really good days in a row, you’re going to be in a really good spot.

DD: When you’re home, what is the rhythm of your life [here in Jupiter, Fla.]? Which guys do you practice and play with? Do you guys play games together? What’s that structure?

XS: Yeah, there’s a usual crew. I mean, [Justin Thomas], Pat [Cantlay], Rickie [Fowler], Gary [Woodland], I’ll see a bunch of other guys who go in and out. As a pro golfer, I’m not the only one here, I’m kind of on a similar schedule as a lot of guys. We’ll do a group chat, set up a game, as many games as possible. And practice is always [followed by] lunch and hang, for the most part.

DD: Who talks the most s— and who is the most fun to play with? Maybe that’s the same person.

XS:] I enjoy playing with all those guys. But Gary’s gotta be up there. I’m happy he’s coming around [health-wise], you know. He’s definitely a really fun one to be around. He brings a lot of spice to the group, no doubt.

DD: It feels like it must be a significant change from when you were living in California, say, five years ago. I remember talking to you when you didn’t really know these guys on that level. You didn’t play with more than a handful of them or play with them at all outside of tournaments. Does that feel like a significant shift, or was it gradual enough that you didn’t notice?

XS: It was a little gradual. I mean, I’d see Collin [Morikawa] and [Kurt] Kitayama a lot in Vegas when I was there for a couple of years. Those were the guys I’d run with and compete against. We’d see each other a ton; we were kind of all we had at the Summit Club there in Vegas. And then I’d see a few other guys at Summerlin. But it was a gradual flow of me being around other pro golfers, because in San Diego was [Charley] Hoffman and some college kids and some fresh out of college competing on Latin Tour or Canada and going through Q-school, and it worked out where everyone was trying to sharpen up each other and the competition was good. But not to this extent. When I first came to Florida, when I started renting here, I remember I got to the range, it was J.T., Rickie, Pat, Gary and me and I’m like, this is a sick five-ball. I’m rolling up and I’m like, ‘I’ve never done this in my entire life.’ You know what I mean? So that part’s definitely appreciated.

DD: So it’s still a little bit surreal, even for you.

XS: Yeah, it’s cool. And you sit here and you think about how you’re going to get better and everyone’s different, but I love playing and I love competing. So what better way to do it than against the best players in the world?

DD: I feel like Xander being like a super-reserved guy is a bit a storyline of the past, but you really seem to find a new level during those team weeks. Like, at [Montreal’s] Presidents Cup it really felt like, Yeah, Xander’s obviously a leader of this team. He’s been on as many of these as just about anyone here. Are those weeks as fun for you as it seems like from the outside?

XS: Yeah. It’s all genuine. It really is. It’s fun to share the room. It’s fun, caddies and players, all in the same locker room. It’s like a true locker-room experience.

DD: Except for your other locker room that you and Pat have.

XS: [Grinning] Right. Exactly. Man, the media is a funny one. But I think everyone that’s in our locker room knows exactly what’s going on in our locker room, minus all outside noise.

I never grew up really playing team sports. I played soccer at such a young age, but that sort of locker-room environment, like I can totally see how important it is to have the right clubhouse, and when a team’s making a run in the World Series or an NBA team, a hockey team, whatever, how important the clubhouse really is. Because when things are flowing in there, it translates. And even when it doesn’t, it still makes you want to push hard for your guys. So learning and being able to experience that, coming from a complete individual sport to sharing the room with those guys and just literally just shooting the s— and making fun of guys and throwing the football around in there, just doing stupid stuff, it brings you way back and it makes you feel like a kid again. And that’s something I really, really enjoy.

DD: Some people have said you don’t fully appreciate it until you’ve been on a team. And then once you make it, you’re like, ‘Wow, I never want to miss one of these again.‘

XS: For sure. You get the lick of it and you’re like, my gosh, this is so fun. And you just know what you’re missing out on, you know you’re missing out on the laughs, you know you’re missing out on the motivating speeches. You’re missing out on the really fun money games within your team leading into the event. And then you and your teammate going to war against the other team when you’re competing and having your team around you on the green when you make a putt or you miss a putt and everyone’s kind of trying to pump you up or fired up for you. You just don’t get that when you’re playing by yourself.

DD: How do you explain who Pat [Cantlay, Schauffele’s partner] turns into in those big-time environments?

XS: Whoever coined that ‘Patty Ice’ thing nailed it because the kid’s ice. I was telling him, ‘If you and I are in a playoff, I am slow-playing you to death, like we are playing the next morning. Because I will not play you in the dark. You and putts or like, hitting sick shots when the sun’s gone basically is something I will avoid at all costs.’

Pat’s one of my close friends and he has been for a long time now, since we’ve been on tour. And he just has this innate ability to focus. Like, a lot of people lock in and focus. But if they did a scan on his brain in those spots, he gets there in these team events. When he’s in a spot where he’s hunting, he’s dangerous and so I’m very happy that he’s on our side and everyone looks to him for a really significant point when it matters.

I thought everything that happened was great [in Montreal]. From Scottie [Scheffler] and Tom [Kim] to Si Woo doing the ‘Night, Night’, I thought it was amazing. At the end of the day we’re trying to entertain, and it was extremely entertaining, I thought. That’s what people want. And I think people are attracted to it when it’s genuine. And I think that all of that competition and all of the emotions flowing through the event were genuine. And I think that’s what makes it so special.

DD: Is there anything you’re working on this offseason? Last offseason I feel like you were focused on your body, getting stronger.

XS: Yeah, some of that. Still trying to get stronger. I mean you’re cutting into my lesson time with Chris [Como], he’s hiding somewhere over there, so I’m going to work with Chris here shortly. Just make sure everything’s in the right spot going into the new season, going through our checklist.

DD: Is it more maintenance or are you breaking new ground?

XS: It feels more maintenance. We’ll see today. There’s still so much I need to work on to try and perfect it. My tendencies will always be in my tendencies, so I wouldn’t say I’m like, 100 perfect comfortable doing the stuff that he wants me to do. So it just takes more work.

DD: How would you describe Chris? He’s kind of one of one. I always like to ask him what he’s eating because he’ll be like, ‘Just birdseed this week.’ ‘Just berries’. ‘I’m on a water cleanse for 96 hours.’

XS: Chris is awesome. He’s always grinding to get better. That’s something I appreciate about him; he’s always trying to learn. He’s extremely knowledgeable, but he’s always trying to learn something new. You can sit with him once a week and he can talk through some crazy stuff from some conference he went to. It’s either biohacking or something neurological, he’s always up to something. And it’s always to, one, make himself better, and two, I think he’s just curious like for himself personally and wants to be a better coach and just a better person. He is an interesting cat, though. He’s not shy about that. You’ll see him sitting out there drinking his bone broth while another guy’s drinking soda, but he’s a really good dude.

DD: In terms of pro golf, big picture, I feel like this year you largely stayed out of it. I mean, you haven’t joined the [PGA Tour] policy board or the PAC. You have opinions, but I feel like you’ve kind of compartmentalized that piece of it. Is that accurate?

XS: Yeah, I’d say so. I mean, I’m really grateful for the guys that decided to get inside the ring and represent us. It’s a weird time with not a lot of answers. And, you know, a lot of stuff that happens those guys can’t even talk about. So I kind of gave up on the whole speculation thing. I have my thoughts on things if you ask me, but I haven’t really sat down and thought a lot about it because what I think matters, to an extent. But until that moment comes where I’m called upon, I feel like it’s all speculation on what’s going to happen. And there’s bigger pieces pulling things around. I just put my head down, I think that’s where the whole head-in-the-sand thing came from because I was like, I just I need to work on myself and get better versus trying to think about how to how to bring everyone back together. That’s not really my forte.

DD: Do you think everyone does need to come back together? Or do you try not to think about it?

XS: Yeah, I’d say so, at some point. I mean, all sporting figures, even all iconic ones are entertainers. Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world and he’s really, really, really good at golf. And a lot of us are really, really good at golf. But it doesn’t really matter if no one wants to watch it, know what I mean? The best badminton player in the world, I’m sure he gets a lot of eyeballs, and they don’t get compensated as much because not as many people want to watch badminton. So I’m just lucky that enough people want to turn the TV on to watch us.

DD: What’s one thing that you learned [in 2024]? Chris is probably teaching you something new every week, but you can pick a random thing, significant or insignificant, that you think you learned.

XS: Until you do it you don’t really know. Like, I’ve done it at certain levels, but just learning that I can win in different ways. That was important for me to, to progress in my career, to know I can do it in different ways. I think the way I won the two majors were very different.

DD: What was the biggest difference between those two wins?

XS: [The PGA] was like a dogfight. They’re all dogfights, but like, in the mix, one car was gone, the next one would level out and the next one would go. Every time I looked at the leaderboard, I was just like, ‘Holy smokes. There are three or four of us.’ Anyone could win that with the layout of the course; it was softer, greens were receptive. If you’re hitting the shots, you could do it. And so that was important, making that putt on the last hole, as nervous as you are, just getting it done is important. And then the Open was completely different. I felt like I was out of it and then had that really big Saturday to get into it. Usually people talk about it like, ‘Moving day, I need like a 63,’ and that was my 63. I shot whatever, two under in like, all-day rain and wind. And then what I felt on Sunday and then just knowing that I’m playing really well and then being able to get out of my own way and letting it happen in the biggest moment of my career was a really cool thing. It was, ‘Holy Smokes, Thriston Lawrence is right here, Justin Rose is right here.’ And then all of a sudden I had a three-shot lead. And then everyone [else] was like, ‘Well, this sucks.’

DD: Sucked the air right out of the place.

XS: Yeah, exactly. And that’s what I’ve always that’s what I’ve always wanted to do. So being able to do that was really cool. Maybe not for people watching, but for me, it was like I won this internal war. When you want something so bad, sometimes you just push yourself away from the moment wanting it so much. And so identifying that, being aware of it, and then just sticking to what I do and then actually doing it was a really cool thing.

DD: Last question. You’ve talked about this before, but I always loved it: What’s the German expression about dripping water on the stone?

XS: Of course. A steady drip caves the stone.

DD: Do you know what it is in German?

XS: [Laughing] No.

DD: What’s the philosophy? What does it mean?

XS: It’s all about process. You see this rock and there’s just a little, in a cave, I don’t know what the top and bottom ones are called.

DD: You’ve got some stalactites and stalagmites…

XS: I can’t remember what which one it is, [Editor’s note: Stalactites grow from the ceiling] but it’s dripping on the stone and nothing’s happening. You look at it and nothing’s happening. But over time the stone is going to erode and just wear off and wear off and wear off until it’s all the way down to nothing, almost. And for me, that’s just that’s a nod towards process. It may not look like something after one day or after the 200th day or the second year. But over time, if you keep dripping, it’s going to go.  

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