Xander Schauffele’s back is feeling better

LA QUINTA, Calif. — One reason Xander Schauffele is eager to play in The American Express this week is that he missed out on a chance for FedEx Cup points two weeks ago at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Schauffele played the first round of the Sentry in Hawaii but had to withdraw with back pain, an issue that dates back to last fall for him.

“It’s a little sore,” Schauffele said of the back this week. “Trying to be as patient as possible to take things as slow as possible in terms of getting too many reps in, and I guess being stupid in that sense. But I’m known to try to practice too much at times. I’m trying to take this one slow so I don’t hurt it again or do something of that nature.”

Schauffele started his American Express with a strong 7-under 65 at La Quinta Country Club on Thursday. He’s tied for seventh, three shots back of leader Davis Thompson.

Schauffele won three times last year, and he’s hoping that getting back to his home state of California will jumpstart his 2022-23 season.

“I would say the West Coast is usually a nice coast for me. I grew up on this side and I’ve definitely been able to make some points up on this side of the United States,” Schauffele said. “Us pros, we kind of stock our calendar how we see fit. When you win early and get points up on the board early, it’s really nice and it really frees you up almost in terms of what you can do the rest of the year in terms of flexibility and taking a tournament off if you’re tired or adding one if you want to add more points. So definitely winning early makes things very nice.”

Like other pros in The American Express this week, Schauffele said he will play five of the seven events on the West Coast swing, including the withdrawal at the Sentry. He has already skipped the Sony Open and will miss the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. That assumes his back holds up.

“I’m that golfer who is sort of like just one more, and it’s like 50,” Schauffele joked. “You know what I mean? I’m that guy. So I think all of us out here who are tour pros are those people and definitely guilty.”