PINEHURST, N.C. – Xander Schauffele finally climbed the summit that was Mount Valhalla and claimed his first major championship at the PGA Championship in May.
The win propelled Schauffele to a career high of No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking but the climb to the top of the game continuesin earnest on Thursday at the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s No. 2 Course.
“All of us are climbing this massive mountain. At the top of the mountain is Scottie Scheffler. I won this today, but I’m still not that close to Scottie Scheffler in the big scheme of things,” Schauffele said after winning the Wanamaker Trophy. “I got one good hook up there in the mountain up on that cliff, and I’m still climbing. I might have a beer up there on that side of the hill there and enjoy this, but it’s not that hard to chase when someone is so far ahead of you.”
Schauffele may have had that celebratory beer but he’s saving the real celebration for later this month when he’s back in his native San Diego. He made it clear that there’s more work to do, noting that he’s only checked one box.
“Just a lot of unchecked boxes,” he said.
Having shed the label of the Best Player Never to Win a Major, the knee-jerk reaction is to say that Schauffele’s breakthrough will open the floodgates. Adam Scott and Justin Rose, who both rose to No. 1 in the world after winning their first major, are still stuck at one and know all too well how tricky winning the second major can be. But NBC golf on-course reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay contends that it’s way easier for a player to win a second major than his first.
Xander Schauffele holds the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
“It would not surprise me if Xander picks off another major before this year is over, so why not here at the U.S. Open?” Mackay said during a media call ahead of the 124th U.S. Open.
Mackay speaks from experience. As Phil Mickelson’s longtime caddie, he watched Mickelson have several close calls, including here at Pinehurst No. 2 in 1999 when he finished second to Payne Stewart. Mickelson didn’t claim his first major until age 34 at the 2004 Masters but went on to win five more to match the career total of Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo.
Mackay said one can draw a comparison between Schauffele and Mickelson, although Schauffele, who won in his 28th major start and endured 11 top-10…
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