Xander Schauffele appreciated the toilet humor.
The literal toilet humor.
“It was nice to see my photo out by the toilet,” Schauffele last week at the Scottish Open. “That was heartwarming.
“Summed up how I feel about what’s going on right now.”
What’s going on right now was almost unfathomable a year ago. Schauffele won the PGA Championship for his first major championship victory. Two months later, he won the Open Championship for his second major. Schauffele was surging. Only then he injured a rib, missed eight weeks of play, and has been somewhat searching ever since. He hasn’t missed a cut in 11 events this year, but hasn’t finished better than a tie for eighth.
Injuries and recoveries happen, though, and Schauffele gets that. At the Scottish Open, he said he remains positive, and that should give you reason to be optimistic about his chances to defend this week at the Open. Then there’s this, too:
The event at Royal Portrush may be just what he needs. As he’s been recovering, Schaufele said an issue has been overthinking; he said “the hardest part has been taking the hands off the wheel and feel like I’m just swinging and playing golf.”
The Open and its links style of play force that, though, he said.
“I was just thinking when I came over here, how just coming off of nine holes, just being a little bit more creative, tapping into that other side of your brain,” Schauffele said.
“I was really beating up on myself for quite some time to try and get myself to play like I did last year, things of that nature, which isn’t really how you’re supposed to do it. But victim of that, and something about being here, you start taking your hands off the wheel, and that’s how I played my best.”
Looking for some other ideas for the Open? Friend, you’ve clicked on the right article, where members of our staff have each made a to-win bet. The hope is, of course, we help you with your own weekly picks, whether those are for a low-stakes office fantasy league, or (legal!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook.
On to our picks.
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