Xander Schauffele Discusses a LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour Match, His Back Injury and Why He Grew Up Hitting Balls With His Eyes Closed

Xander Schauffele’s 2023 has been a bit of a whirlwind. The world No. 6 made a few different headlines recently: First, he withdrew from the Sentry Tournament of Champions with a back injury. Two weeks later, he made an incredibly rare albatross at PGA West during The American Express and went on to finish the tied for third. 

The apparent ups and downs don’t seem to fluster the Olympic gold medalist, who won three times during the 2021-22 season. 

Schauffele caught Sports Illustrated up to date in a wide-ranging Q&A, where he touched on everything from a LIV vs. PGA Tour Ryder Cup style event, to his unique on-course relationship with his father, who doubles as his coach. He also gives additional insight into what’s going on with his back and weighs in on RV life on the PGA Tour. 

Sports Illustrated: Are you generally happy with the direction that the PGA Tour is moving right now?

Xander Schauffele: I like to set more long-term goals, and it’s a little tricky. The word "fractured" comes to mind when thinking about our sport, with some of the best players in the world split up, which sucks just from a personal standpoint of competition. But there’s been a big influx of money into the sport. Do we like how it happened? That’s probably a different conversation. But in 10 years from now, because of this fracturing, because of what happened, there’s a good chance that the sport could be better off. It could be attracting more people, it could force people to become proactive in the space and make a better product, something that will attract a younger generation. I think overall—I like to think long-term—it could be a really good thing. I think the Tour is doing its best to be proactive and put its best foot forward and make sure that no more top players leave the current Tour bubble.

SI: Right, it seems like most fans take issue with the divide that LIV has caused more than anything else.

XS: Yeah that’s No. 1, now that all these little beefs are happening. You know I’m not really big on social media, but someone alluded to this—there was a little beef between players. People want to see that stuff. It’s golf, it’s not a contact sport, you can’t just take a run at someone because you don’t like them, just like you can in every other sport. So they’re handled in different ways here, but people want to see that—people want to see that interaction on the range or anywhere at the same tournament week-in, week-out, to kind of mirror the so-called rivalries that certain cities and sports have. You’d only get that between individuals here.

SI: People have tossed out the idea of a LIV vs PGA Tour Ryder Cup-style event—what are your thoughts?

XS: Both parties have to come to the table and really have a discussion. We’re pretty far away, maybe a 5-10 year window is more realistic in terms of people communicating and coming up with a joint structure. Yeah, could it be cool? Maybe. We already have our Ryder Cup that’s pretty competitive and pretty attractive, so if it goes on, then maybe. If it’s what people would like to see, then that’s what should determine it. If it’s really a product that the fans would die to see then it’s worth looking into it.

SI: What do you think of the recent advancements made to CBS’s Golf broadcast?

XS: I think it’s cool that everyone is kind of going through this experimental phase. Golf has been the same product for quite some time. I think they’re finally addressing it now that there has been a little bit more friction in our sport, to come out with the best product, whether it is mic’ing up someone who wants to be mic’d up for a hole, or anything—if players are willing to do it, broadcasters are willing to do it, and sort of tie it in. With all of the trolls online, you’ll get your criticism here and there, and if you have a good idea, you have a good idea. So it’s cool that people are willing to experiment now to try to come out with the best product possible to grow the experience and the game to attract younger audiences.

SI: Is there something you would change about professional golf right now, cost and feasibility aside?

XS: Just like in every other sport, there’s a draft that gets the best youngest superstars out onto the big stage and into the show early. We sort of lost that on Tour and we’re trying to implement that again. We should give a young player an opportunity to get a Tour card, to showcase their game, because once again that’s what fans want: The veterans, current superstars, and the upcoming stars. You want to provide that package, and that’s now being delivered. And then, week-in and week-out, having the best players show up to the same site. That just has to happen, and it’s going to happen. 

SI: What was your experience like doing the blindfolded Hyland X Vision Challenge—that was pretty funny to watch.

XS: I’ve never been asked to do anything like that for a sponsor. It was difficult and pretty weird, especially when they started spinning me around in circles. Definitely got a lot easier when I was assisted by my team.

SI: What did it feel like to hit a ball blindfolded?

XS: It’s something that I’ve done in the past. Not blindfolded, that’s a little dramatic, but my dad would have me hit with my eyes closed, him being my coach growing up so it was a little nostalgic for me. But the whole spinning sensation and then not knowing where the target was—I was a little bit worried I was going to hit a car or a house or something.

SI: Why practice with your eyes closed? What’s the goal there?

XS: Growing up I learned with feel. I’d hit balls barefoot with my eyes closed. I would hit pitching wedges and 8-irons to get a feel of my balance when I swing through, when I hold my finish. It helped me develop a good tempo. I think (my dad) wanted me to develop those feelings from a young age. We were those weird guys on the range, barefoot, eyes closed.

SI: Speaking of your dad, what is it like having him on your team?

XS: It’s cool now. We used to butt heads a lot growing up. Now he’s just someone I really trust. Him being my dad, I know that he has my best interests in mind at all points. It’s just a big comfort feeling when he is there on the road and when I am in a tough spot. I can ask him anything that pertains to golf or just my life.

SI: Do you have a favorite memory with him on the course?

XS: When I was younger, once I could carry my own bag—that was the rule for when I was allowed to play 18 holes—then I was able to join him to play with his buddies. His buddies always smoked cigars, and I’d ride with one of my dad’s friends and then my dad would be riding with his other friend and we’d be a foursome. I was always trying to beat him. Everyone in the group was pushing this young kid to beat his dad. It finally happened when I was 12 or 13, I beat him for the first time. That was cool, just envisioning how I want to have a relationship with my kid.

SI: What about during your professional career?

XS: Getting my card in Q-School. That was where the team started. They’re the founding members. They were at Q-School with me in Florida, when we got through on the number. I remember they just started smoking cigars on the spot once we got in on the deck there. That was a cool memory. People ask me why I smoke cigars and I guess I’m answering my own question here.

SI: How’s your back feeling?

XS: It’s a bit touch and go right now. I’m very impatient when it comes to these things. I’ve never been injured in my entire life. It was explained to me as if a runner’s IT band got hurt, because nothing would ever show up on an MRI for a runner’s IT band, which is basically what’s happened for me. If that runner doesn’t let it heal and just keeps running every day, do you think that runner is going to feel fine? I’m like, well, I don’t think the runner will heal very easily, but we’re playing golf here. So they used that reference to describe my back. I’ll have days where it’s a little bit sore and I get worried, but they tell me it’s fine. I’ve done more scans just to make sure and it’s been coming back the same. So yeah, it just takes a certain level of patience. Fortunately I’ve got a new team with me to let me know when I’m good to go and when I’m not.

SI: Where exactly is the problem area?

XS: It’s muscular. It’s pretty much T9, T10 area, which is pretty high up. Doctors have said if there’s nothing going down your leg and if there’s nothing going on with your lower lumbar, pain going south is usually when guys have real issues and have to get surgery. My pain is hovering kind of mid-upper.

SI: Your friend Patrick Cantlay has had some pretty serious back issues, has he given you any advice as you deal with this?

XS: Patrick has been a really good friend. We talk frequently, but he’s reached out a bunch just to see how I’m doing and he’ll ask if I need some more eyes, people that have helped him. He’s a very resourceful friend and he’s definitely willing to help me, which is pretty rare in this sport, it’s so individual. He can talk me through what a normal day for him used to look like and I’m like, my goodness, I can’t even imagine doing that. I’m like, “I’m never going to complain to you about my back.”

SI: Are you working on anything mentally? How do you practice your mental game anyway?

XS: If you can kind of control positive thinking, and be really critical, and very aware of your thoughts I think that pays off. You can practice it. Stuff happens off the course all the time, whether you’re driving or you get in an altercation with someone at the grocery store, or anything. I typically try to use those opportunities to practice positive thinking, practice patience. Because nothing is usually as hard as trying to collect yourself after hitting a terrible golf shot on the course, or hitting it out of bounds, or hitting it in a hazard, or having to make a putt to make the cut and you miss it. If you can practice that stuff off the course it will make it a little less dramatic on the course.

SI: Would you ever try out the RV thing?

XS: If you get it set up right, I think Annie is awesome, Jordan’s wife. She really wanted to do this. She told me about it when I was housing with them two years ago. She had this whole plan, Jordan didn’t plan any of this. Annie did everything. I’ll go on the record saying that. He would happily admit it. Yeah, I think it could honestly be a really cool thing if you have a good setup.