Rory McIlroy in ‘tough spot’ due to intense microscope, says Xander Schauffele
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Rory McIlroy (left) and Xander Schauffele on the 13th hole during the second round of the US Open.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES – As someone who has held the unofficial title of “best player yet to win a Major”, Xander Schauffele can empathise with Rory McIlroy’s decision not to compete at this week’s Travelers Championship.
On the heels of missing a pair of short putts over the final three holes on June 16 to finish second by a stroke to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open, the devastated 35-year-old announced the following day that he will not play again until the Scottish Open in July.
The four-time Major champion’s decade-long Major drought will endure at least until the British Open which starts on July 18.
Meanwhile, Schauffele is still riding the high of his first Major title at the PGA Championship in May. Until edging out DeChambeau by a stroke at Valhalla Golf Club, he had a reputation for struggling to close out final-round leads.
“As a competitor, all of us have had our highs and lows to a certain degree. It’s a tough spot,” the 30-year-old said when asked how much empathy he has for McIlroy’s current situation.
“I’m sure him and his team are discussing what happened and sometimes you just need to step away from it all and try to be as objective as possible. It didn’t go his way and he needs some time away to figure out what’s going on.”
Following his defeat, McIlroy was criticised for bolting Pinehurst and returning home without speaking with reporters. He issued a statement on June 17 congratulating DeChambeau and announced that he will be taking a short break.
The Northern Irishman acknowledged that it was probably the “toughest day” of his professional career, but vowed to show resilience when he returns for the Scottish Open on July 11.
“It’s different for everyone. It’s hard for me to compare my losses to his losses,” Schauffele added.
“I would say he’s under a bit more of a microscope. When things are going really well people are all over him, and unfortunately when things don’t go your way people are all over him.
“So, there’s a microscope on him on why he didn’t win and he’s going to have to answer those questions at some point and he will, because he always does.”
Schauffele is coming off a tied-seventh finish at the US Open – the seventh top-10 finish in the past eight individual starts for the world’s third-ranked player entering the final signature event of the year.
He also secured one of four spots in Team USA for the Paris Olympics, where he will defend his gold medal from Tokyo.
“It’s super special,” he said of the Games.
“It’s always an honour to represent your country in any given tournament or event, so... qualifying was my first goal this year. It’s a very hard team to qualify for, as you guys have seen on this US side.” REUTERS
