Xander Schauffele speaks to the media before 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
James Gilbert/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
The Olympic Games seem to be scratching the brains of the golfers taking part in the thrilling competition at Le Golf National. They used to play for money and with them, the best golfers were thrown instead of playing for their countries and with no money at all (at least some of them). The experience elicited unexpected reactions and emotions from the PGA Tour’s elite. Just ask Xander Schauffele.
Schauffele, the second of the 2024 majors just before the Olympics, was on the hunt for her second Olympic gold medal until a poor finish put her out of contention for the medals. He could only watch as his chances faded and Scottie Scheffler struck gold in the final round.
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Speaking to reporters on Tuesday before the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Schauffele made it clear that despite all his success this season, his fainting spell on Sunday at Le Golf National two weeks ago still worries him.
“I’m proud of finishing strong, and to do that was – I was very upset. I went from thinking I could have a good look at the gold to the silver, then I looked at the bronze, and I said, wow, I’m just looking now,” Schauffele explained. “That’s what happened in the last seven, eight games of that tournament.” . So that was amazing, especially with the way the fans were.”
Shortly after Scheffler polished off his gold medal victory, Schauffele, who describes himself as having a “butt injury,” decided to stick around for the medal ceremony. Scheffler, a gold medal around his neck, was moved when the US National Anthem played over the speakers.
He is not alone. On Tuesday, Schauffele revealed that even though he was still upset about his poor finish, when the American flag was raised in honor of Scheffler he felt an emotional shift on the other side, filling the pride and joy of the World No. despite beating Schauffele, he was finally on the same team as him in Paris.
“It’s strange; I won’t lie. It’s a strange feeling. I was watching from the side of the family section, the stadium, and when Scottie was up there with our flag being raised and he started crying there, I was so upset about my round, and I was sitting there and I said, yes. , this is very good,” said Schauffele trying to explain.
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He continued, “I’d like to think I’m not — I can be rational a lot of the time, but I felt anxious in that situation where I was upset with the way I played and I was proud and happy that Scottie won. it. That’s right – it’s hard to explain, your swing. Then we come out here this week and play him the next two days and we’re all just trying to hit heads. Very sweet.”
When asked if his pride was influenced by his gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, Schauffele cited a different source.
“I’m not sure. I think it’s just being an American. You see your flag being raised and your National Anthem being played, and you’re sitting there kind of humming it in your head, and you get that kind of feeling that we don’t get caught anymore.”
Meanwhile, Schauffele is back to playing for himself. He starts the FedEx Cup Playoffs in second place behind Scheffler, with a $25 million bonus on the line.
But soon after that, at the end of September, Schauffele will don the new red, white and blue gear as the American team will face the international team in the 2024 President’s Cup in Canada.
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