Xander Schauffele reveals Rory McIlroy ‘p—ed me off’

Xander Schauffele Reflects on Disappointing Olympic Performance as PGA Tour Playoffs Loom

As Xander Schauffele gears up for the end of the PGA Tour season, he can’t shake the memory of his recent Olympic experience. The two-time major champion, who entered Paris as the defending champion at Le Golf National, finished just inside the top 10 and left without a medal.

Schauffele had high hopes for the Olympics, especially given his recent victories at the PGA Championship and The Open. However, his performance fell short of his expectations. Reflecting on the tournament before the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Schauffele acknowledged that inconsistent results are part of being a professional golfer. “You’re not always going to have it,” he said, though he admitted to being “pretty bummed out” by the outcome.

“I went from thinking I had a good chance at gold, to maybe silver, then bronze, and finally, I was just a spectator,” Schauffele recalled of his final stretch at the Games. He described the experience as disappointing, particularly given the enthusiastic support from fans. “It must have been such a cool feeling to be in contention with crucial shots on the line, especially in the final holes from 15 to 18.”

Despite his own struggles, Schauffele stayed to watch his teammate Scottie Scheffler claim the gold by edging out Tommy Fleetwood. Scheffler was visibly emotional on the podium, shedding tears as the Star-Spangled Banner played—a moment that left Schauffele with mixed feelings.

“It’s a strange feeling, I won’t lie,” Schauffele admitted. “I was watching from the family section, and when Scottie started crying during the anthem, I was still upset about my own round. But then I found myself feeling proud and happy for him. It’s tough to explain the emotional swing from being disappointed in myself to being proud of a teammate.”

Schauffele also reflected on his physical condition leading up to the Olympics, admitting that fatigue may have played a role in his performance. “I was probably more tired than I realized,” he said.

Looking ahead to the Tour Championship at East Lake, Schauffele noted that he’s never won the FedExCup, while Rory McIlroy has claimed the title three times. Currently, Scheffler leads the standings with Schauffele in second. The season finale is known for its scorching temperatures, and Schauffele acknowledged that coping with extreme heat and altitude changes is a critical part of the job.

Recalling past experiences at East Lake, Schauffele said, “I remember playing with Rory in those really hot conditions, and I felt so overheated at times—it really p—ed me off. Meanwhile, Rory seemed to handle it effortlessly, and I thought, ‘This guy is in much better shape than I am.’”

Determined to improve, Schauffele focused on his cardio during the offseason to better handle the intense conditions. “I didn’t want to feel like I was going to explode at East Lake,” he explained.

Schauffele is set to tee off alongside Scheffler at 1:45 p.m. EDT on Thursday, while McIlroy will start his round at 10:45 a.m., paired with Collin Morikawa.