Phil Mickelson shows true colours with message to Open winner Xander Schauffele

Phil Mickelson Extends Heartfelt Congratulations to Open Champion Xander Schauffele After Impressive Victory

 

Phil Mickelson, a seasoned veteran of the golf world, recently took to social media to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Xander Schauffele following the latter’s remarkable victory at the Open Championship. Schauffele’s stellar performance at Royal Troon on Sunday, where he shot a flawless six-under 65 in the final round, earned him the Claret Jug and marked his second major championship of the year. His victory came after a gripping contest in which he narrowly edged out fellow competitors Justin Rose and Billy Horschel, securing his place in golf history alongside Jack Nicklaus as one of the few players to win multiple major titles with final rounds of 65 or lower.

 

In the wake of Schauffele’s impressive achievement, Mickelson took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his admiration for the new Champion Golfer of the Year. In a message brimming with praise, Mickelson wrote: “What an incredible performance by @XSchauffele. A final round 65 with -4 on the difficult back 9 to win The Open and become CGOTY is simply amazing. Congratulations, what a year, keep it up in Paris too!” Mickelson’s message reflects the respect and camaraderie that exists among the elite players in the world of golf, highlighting the significance of Schauffele’s achievement in the context of the sport.

 

Justin Rose, who finished tied for second place alongside Billy Horschel, also took a moment to acknowledge Schauffele’s accomplishment. Rose wrote on social media: “Congrats Xander… A two-time major champ and deservedly so.” This message of congratulations further underscores the high regard in which Schauffele’s performance is held by his peers in the golf community.

 

In a press conference following his victory, Schauffele, with the Claret Jug proudly by his side, took the opportunity to reflect on his journey and express his gratitude. Schauffele revealed that he had drawn inspiration from Mickelson’s epic duel with Henrik Stenson during the 2016 Open Championship. The American golfer admitted that he had watched highlights of that memorable clash to get himself into the right mindset for the tournament. “I feel very honoured. Hearing your name called with ‘Open champion’ afterwards is something I’ve dreamt of for a very long time,” Schauffele said. “I watched the highlights of Phil [Mickelson] and Henrik [Stenson] in 2016 to motivate myself. I guess that paid off pretty nicely!”

 

Schauffele went on to discuss the mental and emotional challenges he faced throughout the tournament. He spoke about the calmness that helped him navigate the high-pressure moments during the final round, attributing his composure to the experience of his previous major win. “There’s calmness and super stressful moments when you’re trying to win a major championship,” Schauffele explained. “I felt them in the past—the ones I didn’t win—and I let them get to me. Today, I felt like I did a pretty good job of weathering the storm when I needed to.”

 

Reflecting on the difficulty of the back nine on Sunday, Schauffele noted that it was one of the most challenging stretches he had ever faced in a tournament. “It was hard. It was very difficult,” he admitted. “I think winning the first one helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through. It was very helpful on what has been one of the hardest back nines I’ve ever played in a tournament.”

 

Schauffele’s victory is particularly significant as it marks his second major title in a single year, a remarkable achievement considering the length of time it took for him to secure his first major win. “I mean, it’s a dream come true to win two majors in one year,” Schauffele said. “It took me forever just to win one, and to have two now is something else.”

 

In summary, Xander Schauffele’s triumph at the Open Championship not only adds to his growing list of achievements but also highlights the supportive and respectful relationships within the golfing world. Phil Mickelson’s gracious congratulations and Schauffele’s reflection on his journey underscore the significance of this victory and the enduring passion and dedication required to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.