Xander Schauffele sums up Olympics with claim about PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars

Xander Schauffele, an acclaimed golfer with two major wins and nine PGA Tour victories, has emphasized the unique prestige of the Olympic Games within the golfing community. Schauffele, who recently secured victories at The Open and The PGA Championship, highlighted that the Olympic competition holds a special place for both PGA Tour and LIV Golf players.

In Paris, Schauffele demonstrated his commitment by finishing the third round tied for first with Spain’s Jon Rahm, with Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood trailing closely in third. The American golfer expressed that the fight for a top-three finish, and the chance to earn an Olympic medal, is fiercely contested among the players.

Schauffele elaborated on the heightened importance of the Olympics during an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast. He noted, “It’s pretty different. You’re essentially on a team. I approach it the same way (as a Major) to be honest. It’s a 72-hole stroke play and there’s 60 guys, and everyone is playing under their country and everyone wants to win.” He added, “I think the emphasis on second and third is a lot more than a normal tournament. You podium, versus if you don’t do well and you come in second or third or if you’re doing well and then you fail at the end, you feel (bad). In the Olympics, everyone is fighting to finish in the top three more so than any tournament I’d say.”

Rory McIlroy’s evolving attitude towards the Olympics echoes Schauffele’s sentiments. Initially lukewarm about the Games’ reintroduction in 2016, McIlroy now recognizes the significance of potentially winning a medal. Entering the final round in Paris in sixth place, McIlroy stated, “It would be the achievement, certainly of the year. If not – I think for me, it’s well documented that I haven’t won one of the big four (majors) in 10 years. It would probably be one if, if not the biggest in my career for the last 10 years.”

McIlroy also praised the event’s atmosphere, contrasting it with the subdued experience in Tokyo due to COVID-19 restrictions. He remarked, “With so many events going on spread all across the city, for people to venture out here and to watch us play, it was a really cool atmosphere to play in. I was not expecting this… This was much better. I think the crowd support that we all got out there was amazing. Obviously there’s a few more flags and there’s a bit more, I don’t know what the word is, like nationalism. But we were all really well supported out there. It was great to see.”

The Daily Mirror’s unofficial guide to the Games features exclusive interviews with medal contenders, world record holders, and reigning champions, offering a comprehensive look at the events and highlighting key moments and athletes to watch.