Stefan Schauffele, father of golfer Xander Schauffele, confidently predicts his son will be the first of the current generation to complete a career grand slam, winning all four major golf championships. Following Xander’s Open Championship victory, adding to his USPGA title from May, Schauffele Sr. asserted that his son has the best potential to join the ranks of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen.
Despite peers like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth already having three majors each, Schauffele Sr. believes Xander leads the pack. “Look at the statistics and see who has the greatest potential. I think he’s the one,” he said, acknowledging his bias but insisting on an objective assessment.
Xander’s recent triumph, marked by a composed performance that thwarted Justin Rose by two shots, enhances his prospects. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler’s two Masters titles, Bryson DeChambeau’s recent US Open win, and Jon Rahm’s Masters victory in 2023 underscore the fierce competition. Rahm’s performance on links courses and his switch to LIV Golf add to his credentials.
Schauffele’s candidature might seem compelling now, but the landscape could shift by April. McIlroy could clinch his career slam at Augusta, or Spieth might achieve it at Quail Hollow. Xander could also be eyeing his final leg at the US Open at Oakmont, with Rahm and Scheffler in contention too. Brooks Koepka, needing only the Masters and Open, remains a formidable contender.
As Phil Mickelson approaches his chance at the US Open at 54, the pursuit of the career slam will intensify interest in the majors. Amid ongoing PGA Tour and Saudi sovereign wealth fund negotiations, this race adds a thrilling dimension to golf.
The Schauffele camp embraces the challenge. Caddie Austin Kaiser echoes this sentiment, saying, “After Xander won the [US]PGA, I told him, ‘Let’s go for the grand slam’. He’s right there. He’s played well in Augusta and the US Open. I definitely see him achieving that. No problem.”