Xander Schauffele’s comments about Scottie Scheffler ahead of his fellow American’s Olympic gold medal victory in Paris show just how highly the former rates the latter.
Both men were among the favourites to triumph at the Games, but Schauffele ended up seven strokes behind Scheffler,
who pipped Team GB’s Tommy Fleetwood by a single shot to take home gold. The win sees him follow in the footsteps of Schauffele, who won gold in Tokyo three years ago.
The pair have been in top form in 2024, with Schauffele winning the PGA Championship and The Open, and Scheffler winning both in Paris and at the Masters.
Ahead of the Games, Schauffele suggested Scheffler, 28, was the man to beat, and he was ultimately proven right.
When asked if his two major victories this year had reshaped the discussion around Scheffler’s recent dominance, the 30-year-old quickly shut the notion down.
“I always say this but Scottie is on top of this mountain and he is way ahead of us climbing up on the side,” Schauffele told the Daily Mail.
Last week, Schauffele admitted he has his sights firmly set on the rare achievement of a career grand slam (winning all four majors). Just five men have achieved the feat, including Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
Schauffele is halfway there already, with victories in the Masters and the US Open all that stands between him a place on page one of the history books. “The career slam has always been written down as something I’ve wanted,” Schauffele said.
“Getting to two after not having one for such a long time is something that feels really good. Expectations can be a mean thing and I think all people in sport have a certain amount of cortisol in the body. You stress, you get anxious, have hard times. I have.
“So to get to two is great, and it makes me remember writing this stuff down with my dad at 13 or 14 – number one player in the world, majors, all these things.”
Woods, who secured a career grand slam back in 2000, said he was certain a sixth man would join the exclusive club soon. However, he tipped Rory McIlroy, who only needs to win the Masters to do so, rather than Schauffele, to achieve the monster feat.
“No question, he’ll do it at some point. Rory’s too talented, too good,” Woods said. “He’s going to be playing this event for a very long time. He’ll get it done. It’s just a matter of when.”
“I think Rory will be a great Masters champion one day, and it could be this week. You never know. I just think that the talent he has, the way he plays the game and how the golf course fits his eye, it’s just a matter of time.”
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
