Xander Schauffele — former Claret Jug lifter, former PGA champ, and one of golf’s steadiest ball-strikers — is officially hanging up the sticks… at least for a little while.
After a sluggish end to a forgettable season by his standards, Schauffele says he’s “mentally tapped” and has zero interest in touching a golf club for the foreseeable future. You heard that right. One of Team USA’s Ryder Cup warriors is heading into September’s firestorm at Bethpage Black with no immediate plans to swing a club, stroke a putt, or even glance in the direction of his golf bag.
Now, before anyone sounds the alarm bells — no, he’s not injured. Not anymore, anyway. But after battling through a rib injury earlier in the year and putting together what he described as a brutally frustrating run of “trying your hardest and playing like a–,” the 31-year-old has reached the point of burnout.
Schauffele’s exact words? “Just not golfing.” That’s the reset button for him. That means home, dogs, wife, couch, and absolutely no thoughts about trackman data or green speeds.
Xander Shauffele Just Needs a Break From Golf
Look, this isn’t a guy who’s mailing it in. He’s just fried. And the frustration is real — especially when you’re ranked 131st in putting after building your brand as one of the best flatstick artists in the world. So much so that, in a final twist before exiting the season stage left, Schauffele made a rare equipment switch at the BMW Championship. Out went his longtime Toulon Design Las Vegas Prototype. In came the Odyssey Toulon Le Mans Tour.
And the reasoning? Brutally honest: “It didn’t matter,” he said. “I could have shot 59 and not gotten to next week.” With zero chance of making it to East Lake, he figured he might as well shake things up — maybe even give the old putter a scare. You know, a little psychological warfare between man and metal.
This isn’t a retirement, it’s a recharge. Xander Schauffele will tee it up again — and soon. He’s scheduled for the Procore Championship, a final tune-up before the Ryder Cup. And let’s not forget, after the disaster in Rome, Team USA has a score to settle — and Bethpage Black is no place for rusty swings or fragile confidence.
That said, Schauffele’s honesty here? Kind of refreshing. Golf fans are used to robotic answers, canned optimism. Instead, we got a tired, frustrated superstar saying he’s done for now — and just wants to hang out with his dogs. Real talk.
So while other Ryder Cup hopefuls grind their way into captain conversations, Xander’s putting the clubs in time-out — and trusting that a little distance will bring the fire back.
