If there was any player who stood strong in contention for the PGA Tour Player of the Year against Scottie Scheffler in 2024, it was Xander Schauffele. The American professional, despite competing against the 7-time winner in 2024, was in a strong spot. All thanks to his two major victories (The PGA Championship and the Open) in the same year. The golfer even hinted at his prime years coming, but unfortunately, his injury struck him off the course for a long time and affected his momentum. Coming after injury at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he finished at T40, and even his performance saw a decline. However, as he came close to the major, he found his redemption path. He recorded an T8 finish.

Now, with him prepping for the second major of the season and coming off a two-week break, he shared an update on his health and confidence for defending the title. Schauffele, who appeared last at the RBC Heritage, is not preparing for the signature event, i.e., the Truist Championship. Well, in the pre-match press conference, his words shared a warning for the fellow. When the moderator asked him, “Xander, you’re making your first start since the RBC Heritage, where you’ve had three consecutive top 20 finishes. Can you just talk to us about the state of your game going into this week?”

He answered it with confidence, saying, “Yeah, the game, I feel like it’s coming around. I feel healthy. I feel good. I just need to keep playing, keep playing until I kind of get myself in contention to win.” With the concerning health, Schauffele has taken proper rest and made sure that he has recovered completely to participate. Now that he is taking breaks in between, his remark on health is a concern for his fellow. Even his past three performances with T12, T8, and T18 finishes is what hinting at his comeback.

Well, not just the speculation, but Smylie Kaufman has also shared his opinion on the same when asked if Schauffele could be a sleeper pick. Recently at the Smylie Kaufman show, he said, “I think he could repeat, I really do. I think Xander Schauffele is 100% going to be slept on coming into this week.” In the 2024 season, the 31-year-old had the same kind of stats, he recorded multiple top-10 finishes. Ironically was placed 8th at the Masters. But his first win of the season came at the PGA Championship.

For this season too, with improving health and having similar results, he is expected to turn the tables around. Even for his performance, he has shared what boosts his performance.

Xander Schauffele on his confidence booster

After sharing the update about his health, the confidence in his statement was evident. But his confidence in the course is sourced from his shots. As further he shared when the moderator asked, “As you talk about confidence, do you have to just see something happen or feel it to know, okay, I’m taking the next step?”

He answered, “I think it’s sort of — it grows the quickest for me personally in tournaments when I’m able to hitṣ a certain shot. Whether I’m uncomfortable or comfortable, just pulling off a shot, whether it’s a drive or an iron shot, we kind of get a feeling, and then you’re like, all right, I just hit that.” This has been the case for Schauffele. Take the example of his Master’s first round, where he began with a bogey, which resulted in a 6-bogey and 6-birdie round of 73. Whereas in the rest three rounds, where he started off with par or birdie, he recorded only three bogeys or worse and 6 birdies to help him secure the T8 position.

The key to the confidence booster and his health is an additional factor that might become a worry for fellow professionals. Having similar results as of 2024, can Schauffele defend his title at the PGA Championship? What are your thoughts on it? Share with us in the comments below.