Xander Schauffele had perfect response after ‘aggressive’ debate with caddie

**Xander Schauffele Recalls Minor Disagreement with Caddie Austin Kaiser During Open Championship Victory**

Xander Schauffele has shared a humorous recollection of a minor disagreement with his caddie, Austin Kaiser, as he neared victory at the Open Championship at Royal Troon. The incident occurred during a pivotal moment on the challenging par-three 14th hole.

Schauffele, who recently secured the Claret Jug to accompany the USPGA trophy he won earlier this year, demonstrated exceptional skill on the final day in Scotland. His bogey-free final round of 65 at Royal Troon secured his place among the golfing greats who have won more than one major in a single year. Reflecting on the achievement, the 30-year-old described it as “the best round I’ve played.” However, as history beckoned, there were still moments of tension.

One such moment arose on the 14th hole, where Schauffele and Kaiser had a minor disagreement over club selection. Schauffele considered using a five iron, while Kaiser insisted on a six iron, offering straightforward advice. “He’s funny,” Schauffele recounted on the Pardon My Take podcast. “On 14 there was a really big moment. I was kind of like, ‘I might hit a five iron,’ and he was like, ‘it’s a six iron’. And I was like, ‘OK, it’s a six iron, this is aggressive’. He was like, ‘just hit it between the bunkers’.”

Following Kaiser’s advice, Schauffele hit between the hazards at the front of the green and sank the putt, bringing him closer to victory. Schauffele added, “I was so locked in. I just hit it between the bunkers, a really good iron shot to 12ft or whatever. After I hit the shot, I just looked at him and said, ‘just hit it between the bunkers!’”

Kaiser’s meticulous approach has been instrumental in Schauffele’s success. Schauffele explained, “He’s incredible, he does a really good job. I definitely feel like he gives me an edge on properties that aren’t super known on tour. Last year at the Open, he logged something like 30,000 steps. The dude’s just out there walking, trying to figure out every little bounce, where it can go, can’t go.”

Now halfway to a career grand slam, Schauffele remains driven and focused. He expressed his determination to continue achieving in his career, saying after his Open triumph, “There’s still a lot of things that I’d like to do in my career, and this is a very big leap towards that. The fire is still burning, maybe brighter than ever. Everyone in my family knows how competitive I am. I may not be the guy running around fist pumping, but that’s just who I am. I kind of know how I need to be to perform at a high level. The same way I don’t get really angry, I also don’t let myself get too over the moon because to me it’s the same thing.”

With two major trophies in a single year, Schauffele has cemented his status as one of golf’s elite players, and his partnership with Kaiser continues to be a key element of his success.