Xander Schauffele shares Rory McIlroy ambition with Tiger Woods in little doubt

Xander Schauffele’s pursuit of a career grand slam in golf took a significant leap forward in 2024, as he secured two major titles this year. His victories at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship have propelled him halfway toward this prestigious achievement, a goal he shares with fellow golfer Rory McIlroy.

The career grand slam, a rare feat where a golfer wins all four major tournaments over their career, is a dream Schauffele has been nurturing for years. At 30 years old, he now finds himself just two titles away from joining the elite group of players who have accomplished this. To complete the grand slam, Schauffele must still conquer the U.S. Open and the Masters.

Reflecting on his journey, Schauffele revealed to MailSport how this ambition has been a long-standing part of his career goals. “The career slam has always been written down as something I’ve wanted,” he said. “Getting to two after not having one for such a long time is something that feels really good. Expectations can be a mean thing, and I think all people in sport have a certain amount of cortisol in the body. You stress, you get anxious, have hard times. I have. So, to get to two is great, and it makes me remember writing this stuff down with my dad at 13 or 14 – number one player in the world, majors, all these things.”

Schauffele’s recent performance at the Olympics in Paris saw him narrowly miss out on another gold medal to add to his Tokyo 2020 victory. He finished round three tied for first with Spain’s Jon Rahm, but both faltered on the final day, leaving Schauffele tied for ninth place with a score of 12-under-par, seven strokes behind the leader, Scottie Scheffler.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, who is just one major title away from his own career grand slam, had a stronger showing at the Olympics, finishing tied for fifth with a score of 15-under-par, just four strokes behind Scheffler. Though neither golfer medaled in Paris, their focus remains on achieving the ultimate accomplishment in golf.

Tiger Woods, a five-time Masters champion, has expressed confidence in McIlroy’s ability to eventually secure the elusive green jacket. Speaking to Golf Digest before this year’s Masters Tournament, Woods said, “No question, he’ll do it at some point. Rory’s too talented, too good. He’s going to be playing this event for a very long time. He’ll get it done. It’s just a matter of when. I think Rory will be a great Masters champion one day, and it could be this week. You never know. I just think that the talent he has, the way he plays the game and how the golf course fits his eye, it’s just a matter of time.”

As Schauffele and McIlroy continue their pursuit of the career grand slam, the world of golf watches closely, knowing that both players have the skill and determination to achieve this extraordinary milestone.