Schauffele entered 2024 with no majors on his resume. When he arrived in Paris as the reigning golf medal winner, he was a two-time major champion after wins at the PGA Championship and British Open.
Now, he’s in position to add another medal to his trophy room.
The World No. 2 opened with a 65 on Thursday and followed it up nicely with a 5-under 66 on Day 2. Despite a few “clanky” shots, Schauffele was able to pour in seven birdies on Friday and tie the lead heading into the weekend.
“When you’re in good form, all of us know that it’s all about just making the correct decision and executing the shot and rinse and repeating that process,” Schauffele said after signing his card. “So don’t let too much try and bother you, and if you do hit bad shots, it’s easier to accept it because you know you’re playing really good golf and you can make it up somewhere else. In that sort of zone, I guess.”
In the zone, indeed.
Among all the great things Schauffele did Friday, an odd scenario unfolded after one of his tee shots found the native area.
“I was sitting in this — I just missed the rough, I guess, into the I guess maybe unknown as they would call it, the long stuff as I call it,” he said. “I was kind of putting my club down and sort of that fluffy sort of — fluffy grass almost, and I’m taking practice swings and I’m trying to get to my ball and I can’t even — what’s going on, something is behind my ball.
“I went down and saw a pile, so I called an official. It was just ants. It was a pile of ants, an ant pile, or whatever you want to call it, and their home; so I didn’t want to mess with it. Couldn’t take relief. It’s a loose impediment.
“I called for a second official because I asked the lady if I can use my club to scrape the sand since it’s loose, and she’s like yes. My gut was like, oh, boy, am I really going to use my club, have it on film, and then talk to you guys after?
“I got a second opinion and the guys said I could not move the grass but use my tee to move the ants.”
When asked why he didn’t take relief from a dangerous animal, Schauffele responded like only he could.
“Dangerous to some. I didn’t feel too threatened by the ants.”
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