Xander Schauffele admits to a stunning emotional turn after his Olympic collapse
MEMPHIS — Scottie Scheffler wasn’t the only golfer shedding tears during the Star-Spangled Banner at the recent Olympic Golf Competition in Paris. Xander Schauffele, who had won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, experienced a poignant moment of his own.
Despite a challenging final round at Le Golf National, where he shot a four-over 75 that cost him a medal, Schauffele was deeply moved by Scheffler’s impressive final round of 62 that secured him the victory. Watching from the family section during the medal ceremony, Schauffele felt a mix of disappointment and patriotic pride.
“It’s weird; I’m not going to lie. It’s the weirdest feeling,” Schauffele said Tuesday at TPC Southwind, where the FedEx Cup Playoffs are set to begin Thursday. “I was watching from the podium area, and when Scottie was up there with the flag raised and he started crying, I was upset about my own round, but at the same time, I felt, ‘Yeah, this is pretty cool.’”
Schauffele described the conflicting emotions he felt, being both disheartened by his performance and proud of Scheffler’s achievement. “It’s hard to explain, the swing of it. I think it’s just being American. Seeing your flag raised and your national anthem played gives you a feeling we don’t experience often.”
As the FedEx St. Jude Championship kicks off Thursday, Schauffele and Scheffler, who are first and second in the points standings, will be paired together for the first two rounds. “Playing with him these next two days, and we’re all just trying to beat our heads in. It’s a funny feeling,” Schauffele noted.
Schauffele, who won two majors this year—the PGA Championship and the Open Championship at Royal Troon—is ranked No. 2 in the world. Despite being in a strong position heading into the final round of the Olympics, his performance slipped, marking the only round over par among the top 10 on the leaderboard. He attributed his performance to fatigue and a return to some bad habits he had previously overcome.
When asked if his final round in Paris wasn’t entirely negative, Schauffele was blunt. “It was bad.”
“I’m stubborn,” Schauffele admitted. “My team would be the first to tell you that. They ask how I’m doing, and I’m always fine. But I was probably more tired than I realized. I take pride in finishing strong, and to end up like that was a bit of a bummer.”
Schauffele reflected on how he went from having a chance at gold to aiming for silver, then bronze, and eventually just spectating. “It was a bit disappointing, especially with the crowd out there. It must have been incredible to be in contention with important shots coming down the stretch.”
Nevertheless, Schauffele found some consolation in the patriotic moment of hearing the national anthem. In what has been a standout year for him, it was a poignant reminder of his achievements.