Xander Schauffele shows true colours as 'best year ever' not enough vs Scottie Scheffler

Xander Schauffele has enjoyed the champion twelvemonth of his play vocation but it is inactive not capable to dethrone PGA Tour rival Scottie Scheffler for Player of the Year, and the satellite No.1 spot.

Even aft enjoying the champion twelvemonth of his golfing life, Xander Schauffele knows it's not capable to outshine Scottie Scheffler for the coveted Player of the Year rubric oregon the world's apical spot. .

"I conscionable had my champion vocation ever and wasn't truly close," Schauffele shared with reporters astatine the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club successful Tokyo, mounting the country for the 2024 Zozo Championship hosted annually by Tiger Woods.

This twelvemonth saw a important alteration for Schauffele, present 30, arsenic helium started moving with manager Chris Como, who has antecedently supported greats similar Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau. The power from coaching nether his begetter Stefan paid off; Schauffele claimed his archetypal large triumph with a birdie connected the last spread to win May's PGA Championship astatine Valhalla Golf Club.

His winning momentum continued arsenic he nailed the Open Championship 2 months later, finishing with a Sunday people of 65, 2 strokes up of competitors Billy Horschel and Justin Rose. In immoderate different era, this show mightiness person secured Schauffele's presumption arsenic the planet's apical golfer – but successful these times, it appears he's inactive chasing Scheffler's shadow, reports the Mirror US.

Scheffler has had a phenomenal run, bagging 7 circuit titles including different greenish overgarment astatine Augusta National. His victories besides see the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship, and the Tour Championship, not to notation 3 different wins.

And let's not hide his Olympic triumph, arsenic helium brought location golden from Paris 2024 aft tying the people grounds astatine Le Golf National with a stunning 62 to decorativeness 19-under par. This leaves Xander Schauffele pondering however to span the gap, if it's adjacent possible.

"It seems I request to person the champion vocation ever conscionable to travel adjacent to Scheffler," Schauffele remarked. He besides expressed restitution with his performance: "I'm beauteous contented with however I played and wherever my crippled is at," adding, "If I tin support connected doing what I'm doing, I'd beryllium precise pleased."

Meanwhile, two-time large champ Collin Morikawa is acceptable to support his Zozo Championship rubric but finds himself the underdog, portion Schauffele is tipped by bookies arsenic the favourite.

However, Schauffele won't look contention from Scheffler this time, arsenic the second isn't successful the tract which features lone 3 of the top-10 world players. Tiger Woods is besides notably missing amid speculation that the play fable isn't successful highest information pursuing different backmost country successful September.

Schauffele's biggest rivals for the rubric this week are acceptable to beryllium Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama, with outsiders specified arsenic Sahith Theegala, Max Homa, and Justin Thomas besides successful the mix. A whopping $8.5 cardinal is up for grabs, with the champion pocketing a chill $1.53 million.