Xander Schauffele shared that he received a congratulatory message from Tiger Woods after his victory at the PGA Championship.
Schauffele, who is 30 years old, secured his first major championship win at the event, a long-awaited achievement.
As the World No. 2, Schauffele managed to fend off Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland during the back nine at Valhalla, clinching his win with a birdie putt on the 18th hole. This victory marked a significant milestone for Schauffele, who had previously finished in the top 10 on 12 different occasions at major tournaments. Both he and Woods believed that these close calls had fortified his resolve.
The Californian golfer revealed the heartfelt message from the 15-time major champion following his success. Speaking on the Subpar podcast, Schauffele recounted, “He texted me, you know, and I think he’s right; he’s experienced it all himself. He said something like, ‘Those times you were close have toughened you for this moment … and I’m proud of you. It’s incredible. I couldn’t be prouder of you.’ That was an awesome text from T-Dub.”
Though it took some time for Schauffele to secure his first major title, he isn’t planning to stop there. He described the exhilaration of competing in tournaments as an addictive experience. “It’s like a drug,” he said. “You just want to keep chasing that feeling. My favorite part of golf is being in the hunt, no matter the outcome. That rush when you’re in contention coming down the stretch is why I love playing golf and sports in general. I’ve been fortunate to experience that feeling often. Winning is fantastic, but just being in the hunt at big tournaments is incredible.”
