Scottish Open star who snubbed LIV Golf millions continues remarkable streak

This weekend, the Scottish Open is underway at the Renaissance Club, with Xander Schauffele extending his impressive streak of making tournament cuts. Despite a scare, Schauffele comfortably made the cut, thanks to three birdies on the back nine of his second round. He will tee off on Saturday at six under par, six shots behind leader Ludvig Aberg, still within striking distance.

Schauffele, the 2024 US PGA champion, has now not missed a cut since April 2022, a record that spans 27 months. His consistency has made him a prime target for LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed venture that recently signed Jon Rahm. Schauffele, currently world No.2, has been strongly linked with a move to LIV Golf, especially after winning his first major title in Kentucky in May with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole. This victory grants him a lifetime exemption to the PGA Championship and entry into the other three major events for the next five years.

The potential drawback of moving to LIV Golf is that its tournaments are not recognized by the Official Golf World Rankings, affecting players’ chances of qualifying for major championships. However, Schauffele’s recent major win secures his participation in these events, alleviating this concern.

Despite the speculation, Schauffele’s father and swing coach, Stefan, has reiterated that his son is not interested in defecting from the PGA Tour, focusing instead on legacy over money. “Xander is not chasing the money. He is about legacy,” Stefan told Golf.com. He also confirmed that they had rejected offers from LIV Golf, emphasizing that without a path back to the PGA Tour and World Ranking points, there was nothing to discuss.

Schauffele, who also won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is considered a favorite for the upcoming Open Championship at Royal Troon. His best performance at the Open came in 2018 when he finished tied for second, just two shots behind winner Francesco Molinari.

Meanwhile, much of the attention in Scotland has been on Rory McIlroy. In his first tournament since his US Open disappointment, McIlroy is at nine under par, three shots off the lead.