OWGR WORLD NUMBER 3
About
Born and raised in San Diego, California, Xander Schauffele fixed his sights on golf at the young age of 10.
His father, a graduate of San Diego Golf Academy (now Golf Academy of America), encouraged his interest and to this day is his only swing coach. Xander played golf for Scripps Ranch High School, then Long Beach State University and San Diego State University.
Among other early accolades, he won the individual title of the 2011 California State High School Championship and is the 2014 California State Amateur champion.
He began his college career at Long Beach State University under then coach Ryan Ressa. There, Xander garnered Big West Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big West awards in 2012.
For his sophomore year Xander transferred to San Diego State University to play for the SDSU Aztecs, where he still holds several seasonal and career records. After graduating with a degree in Social Sciences in 2015, Xander played Web.com Q-School that same fall. There he succeeded in securing playing privileges for the 2016 Web.com Tour season.
After a solid first season on the Web.com Tour, Xander finished in 26th position at the end of regular season play, a mere US$ 900.00 short of earning a PGA Tour card.
In the ensuing Web.com Playoffs Xander did finish in 15th position securing his privileges for PGA Tour membership the hard way.
Xander finished his first PGA Tour season with a solid run beginning with a T5 at the 2017 US Open and ending with being the first ever rookie to win the PGA Tour Championship.
His 2-win season (2017 Greenbrier Classic; 2017 Tour Championship) earned Xander the Rookie of the Year award for the 2016-2017 season.
On October 28, 2018, Xander won the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, China at the Sheshan Golf Club. Xander won on the first playoff hole (number 18), defeating Tony Finau.
On January 6, 2019, Xander won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort in Maui, Hawaii. He shot 11-under-par 62 in the final round to pass Gary Woodland, who held a 5-shot lead on Xander entering the final round. Xander's final round 62 tied the course record at The Plantation Course. He is tied with K. J. Choi (2003), Graeme McDowell (2011), Chris Kirk (2015) and Jason Day (2015).
2019
In early August 2019, Xander placed 4th in the inaugural 2019 Wyndham Rewards Top 10, thus entering the 2019 Playoffs in 4th position in the FedEx Cup rankings. In accordance with the new 2019 playoff format, Xander found himself in 8th position after the first two of a total of three playoff events and arrived at East Lake Golf Club for the playing of the 2019 Tour Championship with a 6 shot deficit to initially #1 positioned Justin Thomas. Xander was able to erase the deficit after the very first round with a score of 6-under-par 64 and was tied for the lead going into Friday. On Sunday August 25, Xander finished out the season with a solo second place at the 2019 Tour Championship, which also placed him in a solo second position in the 2019 FedEx Cup – his highest finish to date.
In December 2019, Xander played on the U.S. team at the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia. The U.S. team won 16–14. Xander went 3-2-0 and won his Sunday singles match against International team star and veteran Adam Scott. Some in golf media called Xander the “unsung hero” of the U.S. team.
2021
On August 1-st, Xander recorded a final-round of 67 to win the Olympic gold medal. He made an up-and-down for par on the last hole to beat Slovakian Rory Sabbatini by one shot. With the accomplishment, Xander became the first American since 1900 to win an Olympic gold medal in golf.
In September 2021, Xander played on the U.S. team in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. The U.S. team won 19–9.
In April, Xander won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team event, with playing partner Patrick Cantlay. In June, he won the Travelers Championship for his sixth PGA Tour victory. In July, he won the J. P. McManus Pro-Am, an unofficial event on the European Tour held at Adare Manor, after shooting a course record 64 in the first round. The same week he won the co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open played at the Renaissance Club in East Lothian, Scotland. It was his third PGA Tour victory in the 2021–22 season, and his seventh overall.
Xander qualified for the U.S. team at the 2022 Presidents Cup; he won three and lost one of the four matches he played.
2023
In September 2023, Xander played on the U.S. team in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia, Rome, Italy. The European team won 16.5–11.5 and Xander went 1–3–0 including a win in his Sunday singles match against Nicolai Højgaard.
2024
Having only previously worked with his dad, Stefan, from the very beginning, Xander made a coaching change and started working with Chris Como for the 2024 season.
In May 2024, Xander won his first major with a birdie on the final hole in the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. He won the tournament with a score of 21 under par, which is a record low for a major championship.
In July 2024, Xander won the Open Championship at Royal Troon, the second major of his career. Xander became the first golfer to win two majors in one season when shooting a final-round 65 at each one. Xander pulled away from a crowded leaderboard with a 31 on the back nine in the final round to beat Justin Rose and Billy Horschel by two shots.
2025
Xander and his wife Maya became parents with the birth of their son Viktor.
In October, Xander won the Baycurrent Classic in Japan for his first win of the year and his 10th tour win. Prior to the win, Xander had two top-10 finishes in the 2025 season.
