"Replace Xander Schauffele with DeChambeau or Reed and IMAGINE the reaction!"

Xander Schauffele was denied relief during the PGA Tour's Waste Management Phoenix Open, but then he asked for a second opinion.

Ben Smith

12 Feb 2023

"Replace Xander Schauffele with DeChambeau or Reed and IMAGINE the reaction!" — "Replace Xander Schauffele with DeChambeau or Reed and IMAGINE the…

Xander Schauffele was in a world of trouble and could've been forgiven for thinking a bogey, or worse, would be imminent.

In the end, he made a birdie after asking a PGA Tour rules official for a second opinion.

Let's take you back to the start.

Schauffele, 29, was playing at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.

It was the third round and Schauffele was on the charge. He had leader Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm well within his sights.

This all happened at No. 13. It's a par-5. Schauffele's tee shot came to rest at the base of a tree.

He had absolutely no shot. Not a chance of advancing his ball forwards. He really would've had to play this sideways.

Mark Immelman was calling the on-course action for CBS and explained to the viewers that Schauffele believed at address he would be standing in an animal hole.

Initially, Schauffele was denied relief. He wasn't having it.

He called for a second opinion and this official agreed with him. He went on to make birdie.

Immelman remarked the American had "turned a six into a four".

He said during the broadcast:

"Xander Schauffele had the ball right back up against that palo verde tree, and it was against a root, but he was standing in a burrowing animal hole, so did a whole lot of lobbying with a first rules official and was denied

"[He] called in a second opinion and not only got relief, and a swing and a shot."

There is no doubt about it, Schauffele did catch a massive break. Animal holes are covered under Rule 16.1a.

Xander Schauffele got this drop yesterday. Claimed his foot was in an animal created hole. Official denied his request, he asked for a 2nd official and he okay’d it.
Replace Xander with Patrick Reed or Bryson and imagine the reaction. pic.twitter.com/ZJm0lNfVVE
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) February 12, 2023

Some golf fans were debating on social media what the reaction would be had Patrick Reed or Bryson DeChambeau been involved in this moment.

Although at this point, DeChambeau fans, we should point out that your man once sought relief from fire ants during the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

But back to Schauffele, and he managed to comfortably two-putt for his birdie. At that time, it meant he was only one back of Scheffler.

What do you think? Don't hesitate to Tweet us and let us know what you think.

Next page: Jordan Spieth hits "best ever" bunker shot, according to his caddie