Xander Schauffele did not excel this year, although expectations were high for him. The 31-year-old golfer dominated the PGA Tour last year alongside Scottie Scheffler and was on the verge of winning the PGA Tour Player of the Year award.
However, this year has been a nightmare for him and he seems to have taken a lot of steps backwards.
Speaking to the Around Your Edge podcast, Schauffele reflects on the performances behind him. Playing golf implies that there will be ups and downs, positive and negative emotions.
Golf is such a sport that it often brings a rollercoaster of emotions, and in the fierce competition on the PGA Tour it is difficult to stay competitive.
However, Schauffele was most frustrated by the injury that prevented him from showing his full potential.
The American golfer openly said how much he loves this sport and how much he enjoys it, but he hopes that injuries will not hinder him in the future and that he will be fully prepared for the next challenges.
On reflection, Im in a weird place. Ive been angry, Ive been sad. Ive been excited to play, and sad again because I couldnt, trying to come back and then being halted. In terms of the overall reflection, I feel pretty similar. I feel the games been taken away from me. It sounds dramatic, but Ive always been able to practice and play and do what Ive always wanted to do my entire life and this has been the first time Ive ever been halted, he said, as quoted by The Golfing Gazette.
I love all the small things about golf. I love hitting balls. I love putting. I love chipping. I love playing with my friends. I love seeing the ball fly, all that stuff I still love. A deep appreciation has dawned over me recently, knowing everythings going to be fine and knowing Ill be able to compete again."
Comparison
Ultimately, the 31-year-old suffered the most when it seemed like his achievements weren't as great as those of Scottie Scheffler. No matter how dominant he was, Schauffele compared himself to Scheffler, downplaying his own achievements.
It was precisely because he was left behind by Scottie Scheffler that Xander felt a lack of self-confidence. This best shows the mental challenges athletes face, and that even when you are a dominant figure in this sport, you still want to take it one step further.
