Xander Schauffele barely made it into the Valspar Championship, sending his entry at the last possible moment while he was anxiously hoping to make the cut at the Players Championship. Keeping a close eye on the scores into the evening, he scraped through, only to falter over the weekend with rounds of 77 and 81 at TPC Sawgrass.
His decision to play the Valspar wasn’t just a late addition—it became a necessity, especially since it could be his last tournament before heading to the Masters. As Innisbrook hit the midpoint, Schauffele’s game seemed to have turned a corner. He’s found himself back in the mix, trailing the leaders by a mere two strokes heading into the weekend. It’s a promising sign for him after a bumpy start to 2025.
Those lackluster rounds at the Players slipped by quietly, noticed only by Schauffele himself. He then headed to Palm Beach Gardens for some TGL golf, followed by an intensive practice session Wednesday night at the Valspar. Despite his team’s attempts to limit his practice balls following a rib injury, Schauffele stuck with them at the Players—and again this past Wednesday.
How many balls, you ask?
“Probably more than my team would like,” he candidly admitted.
At Sawgrass, Schauffele was hard on himself, taking the blame without reservation. He realized he was more focused on his swing mechanics than the game itself, distracted by the technicality amidst Pete Dye’s notorious water hazards.
“This week is about getting back to playing golf,” Schauffele noted with determination after posting a three-under 68 on Friday. He’s not alone in rediscovering his form at the Valspar. Viktor Hovland is currently one stroke ahead of Schauffele, thriving more on his putting, ranking third in Strokes Gained: Putting, which is notoriously volatile. Meanwhile, Schauffele excels in Strokes Gained: Approaching the Green. If he improves his short game, where he currently ranks 78th, and works on his putting, sitting at 95th, he could climb even higher on the leaderboard.
Xander is honing his skills through what pros know best: competitive play. Friday marked just his 10th round since January, making practice on the range crucial. It feels like cramming for an exam, and right now, his rounds are study sessions. Yet, this challenge invigorates Schauffele, as long as his body remains resilient.
“I’m trying to be smart about how I approach things,” he shared. “I feel youthful again, like hitting a million balls and staying on the range until late, but I need to be mindful.”
Having made the cut for the 60th consecutive time, leading this statistic on the Tour, he’ll face two more rounds this weekend at a course known for its ruggedness. Unlike the double-bogey traps of Sawgrass, Innisbrook demands strategic navigation through tree-lined fairways and careful positioning. It’s a course where good pars are rewarded, especially with the wind making conditions challenging, much like Sawgrass.
“This is the type of place where things can spiral quickly,” Schauffele concluded on Friday evening. “Or you can stay the course and find your name among the leaders on Sunday, just by playing consistent golf.”
