Xander Schauffele’s self-belief has always been strong, and it appears Tiger Woods shared that confidence in him.
Schauffele recently shed the “best-player-never-to-win-a-major” label by clinching a victory at the PGA Championship held at Valhalla Golf Club. He had long anticipated this moment, remaining unfazed by the label often attached to him. His belief in himself was unwavering.
“I believe in positive self-talk,” Schauffele said after his win, with the Wanamaker Trophy beside him. “I always tell myself that I can do it. When you believe in something enough, it comes to fruition.”
Before this triumph, Schauffele had competed in 27 majors without a win. Entering the final round at Valhalla tied for the lead, his record of converting 54-hole leads or co-leads into victories was 2 for 8. The previous week at the Wells Fargo Championship, he had led after 54 holes but was overtaken by Rory McIlroy. Schauffele had numerous close calls in majors, with 12 top-10 finishes, but he hadn’t managed to seal the deal until now. On Sunday, he shot an impressive six-under 65, making critical par and birdie saves on the last two holes to edge out Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke.
This victory also came with a message from Tiger Woods. Schauffele shared this on GOLF’s Subpar podcast. Woods texted, “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.” This encouragement from Woods was particularly meaningful to Schauffele.
The taste of victory has only fueled Schauffele’s ambition for more major titles. He described the feeling as addictive. “It’s just like a drug,” he said. “You want to keep experiencing that rush. My favorite part of golf is being in contention, feeling that excitement as you come down the stretch. Winning is fantastic, but the thrill of competing at the highest level is what I love most about golf and sports.”
You can listen to Schauffele’s full discussion on the Subpar podcast, where he recounts his experience during PGA week.
