Plenty of eyebrows went up when the news broke that Xander Schauffele wouldn’t be teeing it up at the Procore Championship this week. The timing made it puzzling — this event is seen as a key warm-up for the upcoming Ryder Cup, so his absence naturally sparked questions. While Schauffele had previously said he was planning to rest after the BMW Championship, it was never fully confirmed whether he’d skip the event altogether. His absence sparked worry since most of his Ryder Cup counterparts would be there, including Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler.

But now we know why. As reported by Sports Illustrated‘s Bob Harig, Schauffele and his wife Maya Lowe have just welcomed their first child – a son they have named Viktor! So the two-time major champion is sitting on this one, but for the best reason possible — he’s officially a dad. Schauffele told the Associated Press in a text message, which came as quite a surprise, as the American had not made public his wife’s pregnancy earlier.

However, when it comes to the Procore Championship, Xander has never teed off, making it also not as surprising as he seems to lack interest in that event.

Even so, fans were confused as Schauffele’s participation can also help with his form, which has been uneven this season. The 31-year-old missed nearly two months earlier this year because of the injury. He wasn’t able to seriously contend and failed to qualify for the Tour Championship for the first time in his career. Despite being the reigning winner, he carried only three top-10 finishes into the fall, far from the form many expected. That inconsistency made him an easy target for critics, with some even calling him the “weakest link“ of Keegan Bradley‘s team.

Keegan Bradley, though, hasn’t wavered in his support. When announcing the team, he called Schaufelle “our glue guy” and praised his humility, toughness, and leadership. “He’s universally loved across the world of golf, but especially in our team room. He’s just a really great guy.” Bradley had said.

Now, with this wonderful news, it makes sense why Napa was never going to be his destination this week. The timing put things in perspective. Bradley wanted his full squad in one place to build chemistry, just like the Europeans will be doing with their 11-man showing at Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship. The entire US Team will be playing at Napa, except Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau. The latter is not eligible to participate in the event due to his affiliation with LIV. However, this wonderful reason might give critics some slack for Schauffele, who would prefer to stay with his wife and son.

Although there will definitely be pressure ahead for the American, Schauffele knows he’ll walk into Bethpage Black carrying a lot of expectations, with the US coming off a humbling defeat in Europe last time. He and Patrick Cantlay are one of the most established pairings on Team USA. His records in past Cups – 4-4-0 – suggest that he’s been a steady personality on the beinnel event, if not spectacular.

‘I cannot wait to get to New York and give everything I’ve got to help our team succeed,” the Californian had said. Nevertheless, with Schauffele skipping Napa, the spotlight now shifts to those teeing it up this week. As the first of seven FedExCup Fall events, it also gives players outside the top 50 a shot at securing points toward eligibility for the 2026 PGA Tour season.

Coincidentally, on the other side of the Atlantic, another player will be skipping their BMW PGA Championship event for a reason quite similar to that of Schauffele.

Sepp Straka’s absence stands out in Europe’s Ryder Cup prep

Eleven of the twelve Ryder Cuppers are in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and will take a practice trip to New York, echoing the formula that worked so well ahead of their 2023 victory in Rome. The lone absentee is Austria’s Sepp Straka, who recently welcomed a baby with his wife. Luke Donald confirmed that Straka’s child arrived prematurely a few weeks ago, and the 31-year-old preferred not to travel too far during this period. Straka and his wife, Paige, previously had a son, in December 2023 by the name of Leo.

This absence, however, is far from a disruption. Straka, coming off a terrific 2025 season, including wins at The American Express and the Truist Championship, and six top-10 finishes, remains a key figure in Europe’s setup. His decision to stay close to home is entirely supported by Donald, who emphasized that Straka will join the team for the pre-Ryder Cup practice trip at Bethpage Black

Additionally, this marks the second time this year that Straka will take Sergio Garcia’s place on the Ryder Cup team, following Garcia’s absence due to poor form.

Hence, while both the golfers seem to be in a similar situation, Schauffele’s participation might have been crucial for Ryder Cup prep, while Straka’s rest before the event might be beneficial to recharge.