Max Homa’s comments about Xander Schauffele speak volumes after Open win
Xander Schauffele’s rapid ascent this year may have surprised many, but not Max Homa, who recognized his immense talent years ago. Max Homa foresaw Xander Schauffele’s rise to stardom three years before the two-time major winner emerged as a golf superstar. The 30-year-old is enjoying a stellar season, winning both the PGA Championship and The…
Xander Schauffele’s rapid ascent this year may have surprised many, but not Max Homa, who recognized his immense talent years ago.
Max Homa foresaw Xander Schauffele’s rise to stardom three years before the two-time major winner emerged as a golf superstar. The 30-year-old is enjoying a stellar season, winning both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship. Schauffele clinched The Open last week, finishing two shots ahead of Justin Rose and Billy Horschel.
While he won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a major title had eluded the San Diego native until 2024. His breakthrough this year has seen him join the ranks of players like Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau, each with two majors.
Before his victories this season, Schauffele was often considered the best player of his generation without a major win. However, Max Homa, 33, had faith in his former U.S. Open partner’s potential for greatness.
After the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where Jon Rahm emerged victorious, Homa recorded a podcast with Shane Bacon, expressing his admiration for Schauffele’s performance, which saw him finish T7, five shots behind Rahm. Homa predicted it was only a matter of time before Schauffele would start winning major titles.
“That kid is so freaking good,” Homa told Bacon. “People talk about how [Schauffele] doesn’t close. Well, Rahm hadn’t closed either. I just wish people were a little more patient. He is good at every part of the game. By good, I mean really, really good.
“I’m obviously biased because I’m a friend of his and a huge fan, but in my opinion, there will be a time when he’s going to win one of these things, and he’s going to be the guy. Similar to Rahm, it could get scary for a bit with how many he might be able to win.
“I’m talking majors or PGA Tour events. Both … he’s that guy. When he starts winning, it could just start coming multiple times a year, and you wouldn’t even be shocked because it just looks so simple. He’s really good.” With two majors to his name, only Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth rank higher among players under 40 in terms of major wins than Schauffele.
