PGA Tour professional Xander Schauffele has returned to the turf, but without the finesse he was once known for. The hiatus from golf in recent weeks was visibly evident in his performance as he stumbled through six bogeys in the initial 10 holes. Although he managed to regain some ground with a birdie on the 16th, his current standing at T52 is a far cry from his usual form.
Schauffele’s self-assessment of his comeback was far from positive. He expressed his disappointment with a hint of humor, stating, “Yeah, it was, you know, got my a** kicked… it’s a tough place to come back to, I won’t lie.” His reference to the challenging Bay Hill course, which had proven equally demanding for Rory McIlroy in 2022, underscored his struggle.
Schauffele’s comeback might have been smoother had he chosen a less demanding location, like Palm Springs. “Palm Springs would have been nice, something like that, that would have been a little bit easier, miss a couple, get away with it,” he admitted.
The two-time major winner confessed that the injury had impacted his game. He admitted to struggling with seeing the lines, not playing enough break, and not giving enough respect to certain holes. It’s clear that Schauffele’s golf game is currently plagued with rustiness that needs addressing.
Despite the low points, there’s a silver lining for Schauffele fans. As the wind died down, he began hitting some decent shots, indicating a slow but steady improvement in his game. “As the wind laid down I was hitting some nice shots and, you know, that’s what I was more used to,” Schauffele added.
In conclusion, Xander Schauffele’s comeback to the PGA Tour might be off to a rocky start, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. His improving game, coupled with his determination and experience, could potentially lead him back to his former glory.