Butt-hurt’ and ‘proud’: Xander Schauffele’s emotional reaction to Scheffler’s Olympic moment

The Olympic Games, held at Le Golf National, produced an array of reactions from professional golfers accustomed to competing for personal gain and substantial monetary rewards. The transition to representing their countries with no financial incentives introduced a new layer of pressure and emotion for these elite athletes. This shift was particularly evident for Xander Schauffele, a golfer who experienced a significant emotional journey during and after the event.

 

Schauffele, fresh off winning his second major of the year shortly before the Olympics, entered the tournament with high expectations. He had already clinched one Olympic gold medal and was determined to secure another. However, his aspirations were thwarted by a disappointing finish that saw him slip out of medal contention. As he watched his chances of another gold medal evaporate, Scottie Scheffler surged to the forefront, ultimately claiming the gold in the final round.

 

In a press conference held on Tuesday before the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Schauffele reflected on his Olympic experience and how it affected him. Despite a successful season and a major victory, Schauffele admitted that his poor performance on the final day at Le Golf National continued to trouble him. “I take pride in finishing strong, and to do that was — I was pretty bummed out. I went from thinking I could have a good look at gold to maybe silver, then to bronze, and then to, wow, I’m just spectating now,” he said. Schauffele described his emotional state as he saw his chance at a medal slip away over the final seven or eight holes of the tournament. The frustration was compounded by the enthusiastic presence of fans, who were witnessing his decline in real-time.

 

After Scottie Scheffler secured the gold medal, Schauffele, who was feeling particularly down, chose to remain for the medal ceremony. Scheffler, visibly emotional during the playing of the U.S. National Anthem, elicited a poignant response from Schauffele. Although Schauffele was still grappling with his own disappointing performance, the sight of the American flag being raised and Scheffler’s tears brought about a profound shift in his emotions. Schauffele described this moment as “weird” and challenging to articulate. “It’s the weirdest feeling. I was watching from the sort of family section, the podium, and when Scottie was up there and our flag was raised and he started crying up there, I was butt-hurt about my own round, and then I was sitting there like, yeah, this is pretty cool,” he said.

 

The contrast between his frustration and his emerging pride for Scheffler was striking. Schauffele admitted that while he was initially consumed by his own disappointment, the sight of Scheffler’s victory and the raising of the American flag evoked a deep sense of national pride and joy. He remarked on the difficulty of explaining the emotional swing he experienced, acknowledging the unique and complex nature of the feelings that overcame him. “I’d like to think I’m not — I can be rational most times, but I felt so emotional in that state to where I was butt-hurt about how I played and then sorta proud and happy that Scottie won it. It’s such a — it’s hard to explain, the swing of it,” Schauffele reflected.

 

When asked if his emotional response was influenced by his own gold-medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, Schauffele attributed his feelings to a more general sense of national pride rather than personal experience. “I’m not sure. I think it’s just being American. You see your flag being raised and your National Anthem played, and you’re sitting there sort of humming it in your head, and you get that sort of feeling that we don’t really get too often anymore,” he explained.

 

Currently, Schauffele is back to focusing on his individual goals as he heads into the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where he is positioned in second place behind Scheffler, with a substantial $25 million bonus at stake. Despite the setback at the Olympics, Schauffele is poised to compete fiercely in the playoffs.

 

Looking ahead, Schauffele will soon don the red, white, and blue once again as he prepares for the 2024 Presidents Cup. At the end of September, he will join the U.S. team to face off against the International team in Canada, adding another chapter to his storied career.