Schauffele: Rory McIlroy in ‘tough spot’ due to intense microscope

Xander Schauffele, often known as the “best player yet to win a major,” can relate to Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip this week’s Travelers Championship. Following a tough finish at the U.S. Open, where he missed two short putts in the final three holes and lost by one stroke to Bryson DeChambeau, McIlroy left Pinehurst No. 2 without speaking to the press. He announced the next day that he would not compete again until the Scottish Open next month. McIlroy’s decade-long major championship drought will now continue at least until The Open Championship in July. Schauffele, who recently celebrated his first major victory at last month’s PGA Championship, understands the pressure. Before his win at Valhalla Golf Club, where he narrowly defeated DeChambeau, Schauffele had a reputation for faltering in the final rounds.

“As competitors, we’ve all experienced highs and lows. It’s a tough position,” Schauffele said on Tuesday when asked about his empathy for McIlroy. “I’m sure he and his team are evaluating what happened. Sometimes, you just need to step away and try to be objective. In the moment, it didn’t go his way, and he needs some time to figure things out.”

McIlroy faced criticism for leaving Pinehurst and heading home without addressing reporters after the final round. On Monday, he released a statement congratulating DeChambeau and announced his break from golf for a few weeks. He admitted it was “probably the toughest” day of his career but promised to come back strong for the Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon.

“It’s different for everyone,” Schauffele said. “It’s hard to compare my losses to his. He’s under more scrutiny. When things go well, he’s celebrated, and when they don’t, he’s criticized. There’s a microscope on him about why he didn’t win, and he’ll have to address those questions eventually. He always does. For me, losses are hard to take, but sometimes it’s best to just get back out there and compete again.”

Schauffele is coming off a T7 finish at the U.S. Open, marking his seventh top-10 finish in his last eight individual starts. Ranked No. 3 in the world, he is preparing for the final significant event of the year. Schauffele also secured one of the four spots on Team USA for the Paris Olympics, where he will defend his gold medal in August.

“It’s super special,” Schauffele said. “It’s always an honor to represent your country, and it was really cool to share that moment with my family after winning the gold medal. Qualifying was my main goal this year. It’s a tough team to make, as you can see with the U.S. side. Getting back to the Olympics was a major goal of mine, and I’m really looking forward to competing again.”