Xander Schauffele shares Rory McIlroy ambition with Tiger Woods in little doubt

Xander Schauffele has been making headlines in 2024 with a series of impressive performances that bring him closer to achieving a rare and coveted milestone in golf: the career grand slam. This remarkable feat is accomplished when a golfer wins each of the four major championships—The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship—at least once in their career. Schauffele, having already secured two of these major titles this year, is well on his way to fulfilling this lifelong ambition.

 

In 2024, Schauffele clinched both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship, marking significant achievements in his career. These victories have not only elevated his status in the golf world but also brought him halfway to his dream of completing the career grand slam. The American golfer’s progress mirrors that of Rory McIlroy, another prominent figure in the sport who also harbors aspirations of a career grand slam. McIlroy is just one major title away from achieving this goal, needing only The Masters Tournament to complete his collection.

 

For Schauffele, the journey towards this illustrious achievement is far from easy. He still needs to secure victories at both the U.S. Open and The Masters to join the ranks of those who have accomplished the career grand slam. Despite the challenges, Schauffele has been candid about his aspirations, reflecting on his long-held dreams and the work it has taken to get this far. In an interview with MailSport, Schauffele shared his enthusiasm for the pursuit, noting, “The career slam has always been written down as something I’ve wanted. Getting to two after not having one for such a long time is something that feels really good.”

 

He also acknowledged the pressures and stress that come with high expectations, stating, “Expectations can be a mean thing and I think all people in sport have a certain amount of cortisol in the body. You stress, you get anxious, have hard times. I have.” Nevertheless, reaching the milestone of two major wins has been a significant boost for Schauffele, allowing him to reminisce about his early aspirations. He recalled, “It makes me remember writing this stuff down with my dad at 13 or 14—number one player in the world, majors, all these things.”

 

In addition to his major wins, Schauffele also had a notable performance at the Olympic Games in Paris. He was initially in a strong position to add another Olympic gold medal to his collection from Tokyo 2020, ending the third round tied for first place with Spain’s Jon Rahm. However, both leaders faltered in the final round, resulting in Schauffele finishing the tournament tied for ninth place, with a score of 12-under-par, seven strokes behind the leader, Scottie Scheffler.

 

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, who has been actively pursuing his own career grand slam, also competed in the Olympics and finished tied for fifth place, ending with a score of 15-under-par, just four strokes off the leader. Despite not securing a medal in Paris, McIlroy’s pursuit of the ultimate golf achievement continues, with Tiger Woods, one of the game’s legends, expressing unwavering confidence in McIlroy’s future success.

 

Before the start of the Masters Tournament in April, Tiger Woods, a five-time winner of the event, praised McIlroy’s talent and potential in an interview with Golf Digest. Woods remarked, “No question, he’ll do it at some point. Rory’s too talented, too good. He’s going to be playing this event for a very long time. He’ll get it done. It’s just a matter of when.” He further elaborated on McIlroy’s potential success at the Masters, stating, “I think Rory will be a great Masters champion one day, and it could be this week. You never know. I just think that the talent he has, the way he plays the game and how the golf course fits his eye, it’s just a matter of time.”

 

Both Schauffele and McIlroy remain focused on their goals, each striving to achieve the rare and prestigious career grand slam. Their determination and skill continue to drive their careers forward, making them two of the most compelling figures in the sport today.