Xander Schauffele trying to ‘piece way back' ahead of Open defence
However, a rib injury in December restricted him to just one appearance in the first three months of this year and any hope he had of continuing his momentum was lost.
'Going from on top of the moon to, you know, knocked off completely, it's a humbling thing for sure,' Schauffele told the PA news agency at an event for sponsors Callaway in Portrush's famous Harbour Bar.
'Winning my first major, getting the monkey off my back, came at a perfect time – if you want to, call it a perfect storm.
'Feeling completely free and playing unbelievable golf, it's a pretty dangerous thing so I felt like I was riding that wave.
'So I'm just trying to piece my way back, gain a little bit of confidence each and every week with each and every shot to be honest.'
His confidence received a boost with only his second top-10 finish in 12 events at last week's Scottish Open.
Performing well on a links course was ideal preparation for the defence of the Claret Jug he won at Troon, but the American does not really view it in that manner.
'It's a strange thing to defend when the venue changes. When I handed over the Claret Jug on Monday morning it felt like a defence, but when I'm on the property I'm not remembering the shots I hit when I won,' added Schauffele.
'I'm trying to relearn the course, learn how far the ball's going, what the winds are doing, what bunkers you can and can't hit it in. So it's a weird thing.'
A new name has been added to the Claret Jug 🏆
What a moment for @XSchauffele!pic.twitter.com/xuem39TD3B
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 21, 2024
What does not change, however, is the fact he has two majors under his belt to give him valuable experience.
He said: 'I don't think it hurts. I think it's one of those things where, if I can get myself in a position, I've done it twice now. There'll be a pack of guys who have done it more than that and then there'll be a pack of guys who've never done it.
'So it'll give me a slight advantage in that moment, but we're far away from that and I'm trying to focus on some small things to start.
'My advantage will be if I can put myself in a good position come the weekend.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
21 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
I'm 100 per cent sure I couldn't make it as a professional golfer
The former Real Madrid and Wales star is well known for his love of golf and has cut his handicap from 'three or four' to just 0.1 since retiring from football in January 2023. That has led to suggestions that Bale – who has played on the PGA Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am where footage of him making a brilliant chip from a cart path went viral – could try and make it as a professional golfer, despite having turned 36 earlier this month. 'I'm fully, 100 per cent sure, I can not make it professionally,' Bale told BBC Wales ahead of this week's AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl. 'When you are in golf and you see professional golfers play, compared to even your best stuff, it is nowhere near. 'When I've played with those players and watched them, you really appreciate how good they actually are. Multi-sport athlete ⚽️ The cart path is no problem @GarethBale11. — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 2, 2023 'Never mind just playing with your friends, they are doing it under the most severe pressure, in tournament conditions, in hard weather. 'So there won't be any professional (golf) for me. 'But I love the game. I love watching it, I love growing it.'
The Herald Scotland
30 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
I'm 100 per cent sure I couldn't make it as a professional golfer
That has led to suggestions that Bale – who has played on the PGA Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am where footage of him making a brilliant chip from a cart path went viral – could try and make it as a professional golfer, despite having turned 36 earlier this month. Gareth Bale (right), with Colin Montgomerie, is used to playing celebrity golf events (Mike Egerton/PA) 'I'm fully, 100 per cent sure, I can not make it professionally,' Bale told BBC Wales ahead of this week's AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl. 'When you are in golf and you see professional golfers play, compared to even your best stuff, it is nowhere near. 'When I've played with those players and watched them, you really appreciate how good they actually are. Multi-sport athlete ⚽️ The cart path is no problem @GarethBale11. — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 2, 2023 'Never mind just playing with your friends, they are doing it under the most severe pressure, in tournament conditions, in hard weather. 'So there won't be any professional (golf) for me. 'But I love the game. I love watching it, I love growing it.'
South Wales Argus
35 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
I'm 100 per cent sure I couldn't make it as a professional golfer
The former Real Madrid and Wales star is well known for his love of golf and has cut his handicap from 'three or four' to just 0.1 since retiring from football in January 2023. That has led to suggestions that Bale – who has played on the PGA Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am where footage of him making a brilliant chip from a cart path went viral – could try and make it as a professional golfer, despite having turned 36 earlier this month. Gareth Bale (right), with Colin Montgomerie, is used to playing celebrity golf events (Mike Egerton/PA) 'I'm fully, 100 per cent sure, I can not make it professionally,' Bale told BBC Wales ahead of this week's AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl. 'When you are in golf and you see professional golfers play, compared to even your best stuff, it is nowhere near. 'When I've played with those players and watched them, you really appreciate how good they actually are. Multi-sport athlete ⚽️ The cart path is no problem @GarethBale11. — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 2, 2023 'Never mind just playing with your friends, they are doing it under the most severe pressure, in tournament conditions, in hard weather. 'So there won't be any professional (golf) for me. 'But I love the game. I love watching it, I love growing it.'
