Xander Schauffele has admitted his frustrations at his recent below-par performances and insisted that he is trying his hardest. The 31-year-old has long been known for his calm focus and strong performances on the PGA Tour. Schauffele revealed in a candid post-round comment that he feels mentally a little tapped, exposing how golf can take a mental toll on players.
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Schauffele Admits He Mentally Needs A Reset
Despite automatically qualifying for the Team USA Ryder Cup team, Schauffele will not be at the Tour Championship next week in Atlanta after finishing outside of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings. It’s the first time he’s missed the competition in his career. The American finished tied for 28th at Caves Valley as Scottie Scheffler claimed an impressive comeback victory.
“Probably more mental than anything else,” Schauffele said when asked how he intended to get his game in shape ahead of the Ryder Cup. “I feel like I just need to sort of reset a little bit, cool off a little bit, and just get back to a healthy mental place where I want to sit down and work really hard again. Right now I’m mentally a little tapped.”
Schauffele also stated that he feels frustrated about performing below expectations despite giving it his best shot. “…I mean everyone out here is trying really hard. There’s nothing worse than trying your hardest and playing like ass. It’s the worst combo. Some of us do it, some of us don’t. It’s been a while since I have, and I did it for a few weeks now, and it sucked. It’s going to be nice to sit back and be at home and away from golf.”
Schauffele Doesn’t Even Want To “Look At The Clubs”
Schauffele’s candid comments were striking in a sport where players often hide their frustrations, and his words exposed the heavy mental toll that constant pressure can have on players.. He added that he plans to put the clubs away for a while to recover. “Just not golfing. Hang out at home with my wife and my dogs. Yeah, don’t even look at the clubs.”
Little has gone the American’s way this year after winning his first major and looking set for even greater success. Inconsistency, injury setbacks, and missed chances have been his theme this year. An opening-round 74 left him chasing from the start at the BMW Championship. He closed with a strong 66 on Sunday, but it was too late to climb into the FedExCup top 30. His honesty summed up the reality of golf at the highest level. Unlike team sports, there are no teammates to share the blame. Every bad swing and every missed putt rests solely on the player.
The coming weeks will be about rest rather than competition as he sets his sights on the Ryder Cup. The 31-year-old is expected to return at the Zozo Championship in September, but his immediate focus is on stepping away from the game to recharge mentally.
Main Photo Credit: © Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
