Xander Schauffele is on His Way to the Top

To hit number nine in the Official World Rankings is something special, but to do it in just four years is a thing worthy of praise. Xander Schauffele is a pro golfer with a mission to make it to the top, and at number 5 on the PGA TOUR Money List, he seems set to be set to progress even further.

Schauffele has been playing golf now for many years, coached by his father and encouraged by a strong family. He was a successful amateur and won the California State High School Championship before heading off to Long Beach State University. He later transferred to San Diego State University and graduated in 2015, turning pro the same year.

Before becoming pro he successfully enjoyed 3 wins and countless other accolades that resulted in him featuring in the top 10 of the World Amateur golfers, readying him for a professional career that was set to disrupt the rankings as they stood.

Schauffele hit the pro ground running and earned his Web.com Tour card ready for the 2016 tour, coming in at 26th on the money list. He missed the chance to get his PGA TOUR card by less than $1,000 and so went on to earn his card by coming in at 15th place on the Finals money list. Nothing was to stop this young player from hitting the big time, playing with a determination that made him great to watch.

Since joining the PGA TOUR, Schauffele has gained four wins and also been voted as Rookie of the Year 2017 by the other PGA TOUR players. He is currently working with Callaway and is determined to progress his position further than the current number nine spot. Whilst he clearly is driven to play great golf he is also regarded as a great person; spending time helping others and offering support as well as being family-focused.

The future seems bright for this young and energetic player and his loyal fan base seems set to watch him progress with interest. One thing is certain; Schauffele has alr3eady made a strong name for himself on the PGA TOUR and seems set to continue in this vein for many years to come!

PGA Tour Wins

July 9, 2017 – Greenbrier Classic
September 24, 2017 – Tour Championship
October 28, 2018 – WGC-HSBC Champions
January 6, 2019 – Sentry Tournament of Champions

Personal Life

Schauffele is son to Stefan and Ping Yi. His father is German and French and his mother is Taiwanese but grew up in Japan. Athletics were a big part of his youth as his father had been a decathlon athlete with dreams of getting to the Olympics. Sadly, he was injured in a car accident and took up golf, then went on to study it before he became an assistant golf pro.

Schauffele credits his father with being the reason he is a pro golfer and thrived under his coaching skills. Stefan, however, has explained that it has been a great honor to coach his son but also incredibly difficult to maintain a working relationship and a paternal relationship. Both men say they get on better now that he is no longer on the bag with him and the support the family gives Schauffele seems to be proof enough that this family is incredibly close.

The global heritage that Schauffele enjoys makes him a popular golfer with many nations and he is warmly received whenever he goes. He treats his fans to as much time as he can spare and is commended for his polite and friendly nature. However, back in July, he accused the R&A of spoiling his image in the game when they published test results that showed he was playing an illegal driver.

His unhappiness seemed to come from others shouting ‘cheater’ at him on the green, embarrassing him and making him worry that people would believe he had used the driver with the knowledge that it was illegal. For a player that puts so much time into keeping his image perfected it was a blow that caused him significant upset!

Schauffele has been in a long term relationship with Maya Lowe since 2014 and she is currently studying for a Masters in the University of Maryland. Lowe speaks fluent Japanese and has previously even caddied for Schauffele. The couple seems set to continue their relationship and Schauffele avoids discussing his relationship status other to share that he is very happy with Lowe in his life.

Xander Schauffele

Full name: Xander Schauffele
Born: October 25, 1993
Birthplace: San Diego, California
Hometown: San Diego, California
Turned pro: 2015