Xander Schauffele’s hilarious hole-in-one story involving Phil MIckelson had Rich Eisen howling

Xander Schauffele is still relishing the excitement of winning his first major at the PGA Championship. However, on Wednesday, he seemed to derive just as much pleasure from reminiscing about a memorable money match with Phil Mickelson. Fresh off his victory and holding the Wanamaker Trophy, Schauffele joined the Rich Eisen Show as part of the mandatory media tour for any major champion. The highlight of the interview came when Eisen asked him about his history with hole-in-ones.

To everyone’s surprise, Schauffele revealed that he didn’t achieve his first hole-in-one until he was 25. This milestone occurred at the 2019 Tour Championship during a round with Rory McIlroy. His second ace, which came less than a year later during the COVID-19 lockdown, was even more unforgettable.

Schauffele recounted that he was leading against Mickelson late in their match, prompting Mickelson, known as Lefty, to press the bet. At the time, Mickelson was still very much into gambling. However, this tactic backfired spectacularly when Schauffele responded to Mickelson’s impressive shot with an even better one that landed directly in the cup for an ace.

Schauffele humorously described Mickelson’s reaction, saying, “He literally sat on the box and looked like someone kicked him in the nuts.” This comment had Eisen clapping and laughing uproariously.

Despite this setback, Mickelson demonstrated remarkable resilience. About a year later, he won his sixth career major at the 2021 PGA Championship. Mickelson credited his competitive matches with Schauffele, who is also from San Diego, for motivating him to return to the winner’s circle. From the low point of sitting on that box, Mickelson bounced back to hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy.

Now, Schauffele has his own Wanamaker Trophy, along with some classic hole-in-one stories to tell.