Xander Schauffele shot a record score of 21-under-par to win the PGA Championship, marking his first major title and sparking speculation that he might leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
On Sunday, Schauffele secured the Wanamaker Trophy at Valhalla by sinking a birdie putt on the final hole, edging out Bryson DeChambeau in a thrilling finale. This victory ended the 30-year-old’s string of near misses in major tournaments, with Schauffele having previously finished in the top 10 on 12 occasions. His performance at the PGA Championship was historic, as he posted a record score of 21-under-par.
The win guarantees Schauffele’s entry into the PGA Championship for the rest of his career, as well as automatic qualification for the next five editions of the other three majors. Despite these achievements, rumors quickly surfaced that Schauffele might be targeted by LIV Golf, a rival league known for offering substantial financial incentives to attract top players from the PGA Tour.
However, Schauffele’s father and swing coach, Stefan, swiftly dismissed any speculation of a switch. “No chance,” Stefan told GOLF.com. “Xander is not chasing the money. Xander is about legacy. And as my opinion – just 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 if there is 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 struggles and near misses that had characterized his career. As an Olympic gold medallist at Tokyo 2020, he has 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 remarkable performance at the PGA Championship saw him leading from day one, starting with a sensational 62 and concluding with a final round of 65. Reflecting on his victory, 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.”