Xander Schauffele: "It's been a pretty bad year to be completely honest"

Xander Schauffele says it has been frustrating backing up the best year of his career with his worst. 

Schauffele finally broke through at the majors in 2024 by winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla and lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Troon. 

But it has not gone to plan since for the multiple PGA Tour winner. 

The American golfer, 31, was forced to sit out eight weeks of the 2025 season with an intercostal strain and, after making his return at TPC Sawgrass, has struggled to find form. 

He has not contended for a single victory and his only top 10 finish arrived at the 2025 Masters. 

He finished in a tie for 12th at last month's US Open and shared 28th place in his defence at the PGA. 

Schauffele told reporters before the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club he doesn't feel too stressed despite being very unhappy with how he is performing. 

Asked to assess his confidence level right now, Schauffele said: "I'd say the belief is good [but] I don't think I've given myself a lot of reasons to believe that I'm playing okay. 

"It's been a pretty bad year to be completely honest."

Schauffele said he's not tempted to add more events to his schedule to try and turn things around. 

"I'm trying to do a lot of things," he said. "And I think the best part of my game has probably been my mental just fortitude, whatever you want to call it, just to try to stay positive and behave as if I am playing really well.

"But coming off a year like last year, getting hurt, coming back, my expectations and playing ability have not cued up very nicely."

There is no denying Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world right now. 

The two-time major champion is closing in on his 150th week at the summit of the Official World Golf Rankings. 

Schauffele said one of his goals is to become the top-ranked golfer in the world one day but, at least in the short term, that mountain seems far too steep. 

Instead, he'll settle for 72 holes without fiddling with his golf swing too much. 

Schauffele was asked, though, if has got him fired up in 2025 that his name has not been mentioned alongside the likes of Scheffler and Rory McIlroy this season. 

"I don't go to bed at night saying, you know, please talk about me, you know," he said. 

"But no, I don't play for those reasons. I really just want to play good golf. I mean, I'm pretty content with myself. 

"I definitely feel happy when I'm -- frustrated, but in general, what would make me really happy is that I can just play freely. 

"I think the obstacles of trying to play really good golf and then playing bad golf and then just fiddling all day long is really what drives me nuts. It's why we love the game but it's what's driving me crazy.

"So if I can just get out of my own way, that would be the thing that would make me happiest right now more than even winning a tournament. 

"That would just be the result."

"I drank a little bit more than I usually do"

Schauffele will head to Royal Portrush next week and attempt to defend his title. 

The last American to win The Open, Brian Harman, previously admitted that he enjoyed drinking red wine out of the Claret Jug before he had to give it back. 

Schauffele was asked how his life has changed over the last 12 months since becoming a champion golfer. 

"I drank a little bit more than I normally do," he said with a smile. 

"That was probably the biggest change that I had in my life was trending towards an alcoholic. It's been awesome."

He added: "I really don't feel like -- it's been a weird year for me just from coming off year I had last year into sort of what I did just kind of disappearing and then playing bad coming out of it.

"So any expectation I had of whatever I thought I was capable of doing, you know, from a feel standpoint last year, has been sort of reset and I am in full chase mode, like a kid."

One scribe told Schauffele he had done reporters' jobs by giving them an easy headline. 

"Yeah, please don't use that one," he said. "A little context would be appreciated."

"I don't think I'd be very surprised"

Keegan Bradley has confirmed he is heavily considering becoming a playing captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

His victory at the Travelers Championship saw him move up to seventh in the OWGR and ninth in the US Ryder Cup standings. 

Bradley is unquestionably one of the best American golfers in the world right now. 

Schauffele said he would not be surprised at all if Bradley finishes in the top six and doesn't even have to make a decision. 

"Clearly he's earning it," Schauffele said. 

"If you ask him, he's playing the best golf of his career. We just want our best 12 playing. 

"You know, I think that's sort of what it really comes down to. So he is just flying up the qualifying, that standings leaderboard. 

"Would I be surprised if he got into the top six and wasn't even a conversation anymore? 

"I don't think I'd be very surprised and I don't think he would, either."

He added: "You know, if he does, it's going to be a fun situation for himself but I think he's surrounded himself with really good vice captains. 

"I don't think he's going to make a decision he regrets."