Xander Schauffele Interview: Swing Changes, Major Championships, and Victory Cigars

Smylie Kaufman is joined by two-time major champion Xander Schauffele on our latest longform conversation with a Tour pro on "The Smylie Show." We go all the way back to Xander's college days, the pressures of Q School and the Korn Ferry Tour that followed, and the manner in which he bursted onto the PGA TOUR scene. Xander details several key moments during that rookie year that were pivotal in his development, his near misses at majors in the ensuing years, and what it felt like to finally win one - and then another one - in 2024. We finally let Xander (and his two dogs) go to complete their move to a new home, but not without some cigar talk and a hilarious fishing story from his rookie year.

 

Chapters

00:00 Xander's Moving Experience

02:00 Eating Habits and Cigar Culture

03:52 Adjusting to Florida Life with Pets

05:04 College Journey and Early Career

07:53 Transitioning to Professional Golf

10:56 Challenges on the Korn Ferry Tour

13:51 First PGA Tour Experiences

16:54 Breakthrough at Erin Hills

19:50 Winning on the PGA Tour

24:45 The Journey to Success

28:32 Mentality and Growth in Golf

30:58 The Road to Major Championships

38:34 Overcoming Challenges in Major Tournaments

49:24 Validation and Future Aspirations