Xander Schauffele Dad list out criteria’s for LIV GOLF

Xander Schauffele shot a record score of 21-under-par to win the PGA Championship, securing his first major title and sparking rumors that he might leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.

On Sunday, Schauffele delivered a remarkable performance at Valhalla, clinching the Wanamaker Trophy by sinking a birdie putt on the final hole. He narrowly defeated Bryson DeChambeau in an epic finale, ending his streak of near misses in major tournaments. Schauffele’s victory was historic, as his 21-under-par score set a new record for the PGA Championship.

This win ensures Schauffele’s exemption into the PGA Championship for the rest of his career and grants him automatic entry into the next five editions of the other three majors. Despite these accomplishments, rumors quickly spread that Schauffele might be the next high-profile player to join LIV Golf, a rival league known for its lucrative financial offers aimed at attracting top talent from the PGA Tour.

However, Schauffele’s father and swing coach, Stefan, quickly shut down any speculation of a switch. “No chance,” Stefan told GOLF.com. “Xander is not chasing the money. Xander is about legacy. And in my opinion—as his father—there was never a chance. What we told LIV in Saudi Arabia, with Xander beside me, was that if there is no path back to the PGA Tour and no chance at World Ranking points, we do not have anything to talk about. Even if you throw hundreds of millions of dollars at him. That word still stands.”

Reflecting on his journey to major glory, Schauffele acknowledged the adversity and near misses that had defined his career. As an Olympic gold medalist at Tokyo 2020, he faced significant pressure and scrutiny. “Definitely a chip on the shoulder there,” Schauffele said. “You guys are asking the questions, probing, and I have to sit here and answer it. It’s a lot easier to answer it with this thing [Wanamaker Trophy] sitting next to me now, obviously. It’s just fuel, fuel to my fire. It always has been growing up, and it certainly was leading up to this.”

Schauffele’s path to victory saw him lead from day one, starting with a sensational round of 62 and finishing with a final round of 65. When asked how he felt about his breakthrough win, he said, “All those close calls for me, that sort of feeling gets to you at some point. It just makes this even sweeter. I know it’s a major, but just winning in general—this is as sweet as it gets for me.”