Rory McIlroy’s Knee-Jerk Decision Vindicated by Xander Schauffele’s Exhaustion Admission

Rory McIlroy’s Knee-Jerk Decision Vindicated by Xander Schauffele’s Exhaustion Admission

Xander Schauffele has been in the hunt at the TPC River Highlands all week but he has admitted he is feeling the effects of a busy schedule after a fast start to the season.

Xander Schauffele, the 30-year-old golfer known for his recent top form, has maintained an impressive streak at TPC River Highlands, sitting comfortably in 5th place during the third round. Despite his success, Schauffele acknowledged that the intense PGA Tour schedule has taken its toll on him.

Following his second straight five-under 65 at the event, Schauffele opened up: “I think I was in a little bit of denial,” he admitted. “This is probably the most in contention I’ve ever been in my life through a pretty hot stretch of golf.

Schauffele revealed the physical and mental fatigue he has been experiencing: “I think I’m probably more worn down than I thought I was, than I wanted to admit to my team. I think I got tired once everyone told me that I looked tired. I felt like I was fine.”

Recognizing the benefits of rest, he added, “It’s a lot of golf and, yeah, I think not playing this afternoon for myself is going to be helpful to sort of rest up and get ready for the weekend.”

Schauffele reflected on his recent journey, stating, “It’s been an amazing month for me – a few months, actually. For us golfers it’s like a drug to be in contention. It’s an awesome feeling. It’s why we practice, it’s why we play the game, at least speaking for myself.”

While acknowledging the challenges, he remains optimistic: “Having a lot of opportunities to be in that final group on Sunday, even though I haven’t gotten it done very often, only once, actually, in the last two years, is all I could ask for.”

Schauffele’s candid admission comes on the heels of Rory McIlroy’s announcement of a break following his U.S. Open disappointment. The Northern Irish superstar missed out on a major win for the first time in ten years to Bryson DeChambeau.

McIlroy extended his congratulations to DeChambeau for clinching his second U.S. Open title, while also sharing his plans to step back and reflect on his performance at Pinehurst No. 2.

McIlroy stated, “As I reflect on my week, I’ll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly, the 2 missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I’ll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives.”

He continued, “As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I’ve shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.”

Rory also announced his plan to take some time off to regroup before returning to defend his titles at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon, concluding with: “I’m going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland.”

Both Schauffele and McIlroy highlight the intense pressures and demands of professional golf, showing that even top athletes need time to recharge and reflect.