Xander Schauffele has admitted he was “pretty bummed out” after a disappointing end to the 2024 Olympics saw him miss out on a medal.
The two-time Major champion and Tokyo 2020 gold medal winner was tied for the lead heading into the final round but went on to shoot a closing 73 to miss out on the bronze medal by five strokes after making three bogeys and a double in his last 11 holes.
He ended the week in T9th and seven behind winner Scottie Scheffler, who outscored him by 11 strokes in the final round after equalling the course record of 62.
Speaking ahead of this week’s FedEx St Jude Championship, the World No.2 had a chance to reflect on his double-Major year so far but said he was “too busy” thinking about the Olympics disappointment.
“Yeah, it’s nice to break off some wins. Major championships are always a bonus. You always dream of doing it, and to do it twice in one year is really special. Over the moon when I let my brain go back to that time,” he said of his year.
“But I’m too busy thinking about how I just finished my last event there in Paris. Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe it’s a bad thing, who knows. But I’ve been trying to get ready for these Playoffs.”
Schauffele then described the moment he realized he wasn’t going to be on the podium and had gone from the heat of the battle to simply spectating.
“It was bad. Yeah. I mean, I’m stubborn. My team would be the first people to tell you that. They ask me how I’m doing, I’m fine. I’m always fine. But I was probably more tired than I thought I was,” he said.
Schauffele was speaking ahead of the FedEx St Jude Championship
(Image credit: Getty Images)
“Yeah, I take pride in finishing strong, and to do that was – I was pretty bummed out. I went from thinking I could have a good look at gold to maybe silver, then to bronze, and then to, wow, I’m just spectating now.
“That’s sort of what happened the last seven, eight holes of that tournament. So that was a bit of a bummer, especially with how the fans were out there. It must have been such a cool feeling to be in the hunt with important shots coming down that stretch, 15 to 18.
“Yeah, I look at it, I just want to identify. Sat down with Chris [his coach, Chris Como] already, sort of identified what happened. I don’t want to get back into my old habits that I’ve been…
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