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SPORTS Wednesday 24 July 2024

Analysis: Xander Schauffele is now in the conversation with

Scheffler for best year in golf

By DOUG FERGUSON over David Duval winning a
AP Golf Writer tournament in each season
TROON, Scotland (AP) — winter, spring, summer and
Xander Schauffele is the fall along with the money
British Open champion, list when the PGA Tour used
and the PGA Tour must be to hand out an award for
thrilled. that.
The FedEx Cup is as mean- They chose Padraig Har-
ingful as ever, a three-tour- rington in 2008 over Vijay
nament stretch in August Singh, who won a World
that could go a long way Golf Championship, two
toward deciding who gets playoff events and the Fe-
the players’ vote for PGA dEx Cup.
Tour player of the year. There is also history on
Schauffele or Masters Scheffler’s side. He was
champion Scottie Schef- chosen last year over Jon
fler? Rahm, the Masters cham-
Schauffele is only the ninth pion who had four wins to
player in the last 40 years to only two by Scheffler. The
win two majors in the same difference was Scheffler
year (Tiger Woods did it being so statistically power-
four times), having won a ful that he won the Vardon
thriller at Valhalla to claim Trophy for the lowest scor-
the PGA Championship in Xander Schauffele of the United States touches the Claret Jug trophy during a press conference ing average. It took him
May. after winning the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Troon golf club in Troon, Scotland, until July to have a result
Since the Jack Nicklaus Sunday, July 21, 2024. Associated Press worse than 12th.
Award began in 1990, only Schauffele was the only
one of those players was and the gorse bushes even ahead and The Players looked, particularly since player to finish in the top 10
not voted player of the more prickly, Schauffele Championship from be- Scheffler has had only two in all four majors. Scheffler
year. That was Nick Faldo, played bogey-free for a 65 hind, coming back from finishes out of the top 10 a had three top 10s in the four
and there was a reason he in which he missed only two a neck injury that nearly tie for 17th at The American biggest events, and the
wasn’t a PGA Tour mem- greens, none on the back caused him to withdraw on Express in the California PGA Championship proba-
ber, playing only seven nine. Friday and erasing a five- desert and a tie for 41st in bly should have an asterisk
tour-sanctioned events The lasting images of Schef- shot deficit on Sunday. the U.S. Open at Pinehurst because of the week was
that year. fler? Turning a 6-foot par His other four victories were No. 2. marked by Scheffler get-
But do two majors putt into a three-putt dou- all at signature events, with But it’s 2-1 in the majors, ting arrested and booked

Schauffele’s only two wins ble bogey on the ninth hole the $20 million purses and and Schauffele has history into jail.
this year trump the aston- that effectively knocked the strongest fields Bay Hill on his side with players his- Scheffler is virtually assured
ishing season that Scheffler him from contention, and and Harbour Town, the Me- torically leaning toward the of becoming the first play-
has produced? then topping a tee shot on morial and the Travelers. majors. er since Woods in 2009 to
It’s easy to look at Sun- 18 that was swallowed up The six wins are the most in Some years it was an easy start the year at No. 1 in the
day at Royal Troon when by thick grass just 176 yards a season since Tom Watson choice, whether it was Nick world and stay there until
Schauffele played what off the tee. in 1980, and the most be- Price in 1994 or Rory McIlroy the end of December.
he called “the best round But that would be to forget fore the calendar turned to in 2014. Schauffele isn’t getting
of my life.” In a wind that what Scheffler has done July since Arnold Palmer in Players in 1998 preferred enough credit for making
made the rough look thick- this year, not just last week. 1962. Mark O’Meara winning the the cut in 52 consecutive
er, the pot bunkers deeper He won the Masters from That’s not easily over- Masters and British Open PGA Tour events.q