Xander Schauffele is now the Golden Boy of USA Olympic Golf, he’s the Gold Medalist who emerged from the tough, tense, dramatic Sunday showdown on a day where there was so much to win and so much to lose.
The world’s fifth-ranked player made it incredibly tough on himself but he did what champions do — he came through with everything on the line when he was in serious trouble on the 72nd hole at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Nursing a one-shot lead over 61-shooting and Olympic record-setting Rory Sabbatini, Schauffele’s tee shot sailed well right and in serious trouble. It was so serious he had to punch out and left himself with 98 yards to navigate, 98-yards standing between him and his family’s lifetime dream — the Olympic Gold Medal.
All Schauffele did was rise to the occasion in a big way, he planted that wedge shot about four yards past the hole and spun it back to four-feet. After Hideki Matsuyama blew a 12-footer for what would have won him the Bronze Medal, Xander made the winner, dead-center. That huge par was good for 67 and the 18-under Gold Medal score, a shot better than Sabbatini, who came through with the round of his life for the Silver.
Later, there was even more drama in the form of a seven-man playoff for the Bronze, won by C.T. Pan on the fourth playoff hole. It was down to him and world No. 3 Collin Morikawa for the last medal and Morikawa’s approach from the first cut buried deep in the wall of the bunker short of the green. He barely got it out, missed his par from 20 feet and ended up congratulating Pan.
Meanwhile, Schauffele was embraced by his father Stefan, whose Olympic dreams were squashed by a drunk driver. Stefan was an Olympic hopeful from Germany, in the decathlon. During his training for the 1988 Olympics, a drunk driver crashed into Stefan’s vehicle, leaving him badly injured and blind in his left eye. Xander’s grandfather Richard, was a 1935 German track and field champion before being sidelined by a shoulder injury two weeks before the 1936 Olympics.
Xander’s win had huge familial meaning, his father was nothing short of bursting with pride fighting tears as he watched his son accept the Gold Medal. “Nobody is going to play the (national) anthem for you when you win the Masters; that level of pride just doesn’t exist in a major and lots of thoughts come back,” Stefan said. “I’m choking up now just thinking about it. It’s just about honor.”
It was an honor that nearly didn’t happen. Schauffele, like many, was indecisive for a while about the logistics but friends of the family living in Japan took care of everything from hotels to food to transportation to the course, a haul from downtown Tokyo. Schauffele’s mom’s family still live there and along with friends and friends of friends, they set up everything from food to a good hotel to transportation for Xander. Back to the final round, there was the looming disaster at the par five 14th hole where Xander’s drive went way right, into some dense trees and undergrowth. It was a minor miracle that volunteers found Schauffele’s ball — they’re the unsung heroes of the round. He took an unplayable, barely got it out, left his fourth well short of the green then made an incredible bogey-save that dropped him back into a tie with Sabbatini, who had posted that 10-under, record-setting 61 a good two hours ahead.
Schauffele made birdie where he was supposed to at the driveable par four 17th then made the Gold Medal save at 18 to win it.
It’s special,” Schauffele said afterward. “That’s a word that’s thrown around a lot, especially for us golfers. I mean it’s so different for us, we’re used to playing for money and we play a normal schedule, and this is every four years and it’s just kind of a different feel to it. And you’re wearing your country’s colors and everyone’s just trying to represent to the best of their ability. So it does have that sort of special and different feel.
“To have my dad here as well is really special. I gave him a hug off the back of the green there. I know this means a lot to him, so I’m just happy to sort of deliver this.”
As for the finish, Schauffele was feeling the heat. “I was trying so hard to just stay calm,” Schauffele recounted. “Hit a terrible drive on 18, had to make a sort of sloppy par and fortunately hit it close enough to sort of have a high percentage putt at roughly four, five feet. But, man, it was stressful. And I made that putt, and it was just a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and just very relieved and happy, of course.”
As for father Schauffele, he was bursting with pride.
“I felt like I was out there playing,” Stefan said as he watched his son prepare to receive the Gold. “No, I’m not that good. You’re very proud. I think the real moment where the emotions come to the surface will be on the podium, when the anthem plays. Talking about this previously, I got choked up. I know that’s going to be a big moment. Very proud.”
Xander made the entire USA proud, adding to the overall Gold Medal count.
No he didn’t win a major championship. But on a tense, dramatic Sunday outside Tokyo, he came through with a major performance.
He worked hard enough to win a major title and now he will have a lifetime designation — Olympic Gold Medal Winner.
And it was Xander who summed it up best:
“This medal is for my country and my family, especially my Dad.”
Olympic Golf Final Scoreboard:
6 Comments
baxter cepeda
It’s not a major but it feels fairly equal and certainly bigger than most, including the Players, Fed Ex Cups and all those great events on tour.
The Awesome story lines, which Tom documented well in the article, didn’t hurt.
I must admit I saw a potential US Sweep but didn’t even mention Xander. Not that Xander couldn’t do it but collin, Reed and JT all seemed more capable of the moment.
Xander needed to show something big and now he has. He now instantly becomes a lot more pick-able the next time a big event rolls around. He’s an amazing talent. Between finally winning, his dad, his ties to Japan, I mean, what great story lines!
But as great as the Olympic champs storyline was it was probably not half as great as the other Rorys —sabbatini that is.
The Slovak by way of Texas is still saying he switched flags not for the Olympics but to grow the game in his wife’s native country. But it’s clear the way he would grow the game there is by representing them in the Olympics.
The silver medalists performance Sunday was what sports are all about; playing out of his mind to achieve something so great; and if it wasnt for Xander’s clutch wedge and putt at 18; the veteran could have won the whole thing.
I mean for me this sabbatini story, which is years in the making, requires a movie or a documentary or something. I’ve been fascinated with the story for a long time now and feel there are still so many details to be divulged by the silver medalist.
Sabbatinis silver run was most reminiscent to Kuchars epic run in Rio for Bonze. But this Battle for bronze was arguably even more epic than Kuchars. It seemed the entire world was represented in that 7 man playoff. There was everything from journeymen to major champs to all time legends battling for this bronze.
It was somewhat fitting in the end that at the Olympics still affected by the RONA it was the guy who showed incredible leadership and courage by withdrawing from the Players when the Rona first started. Everyone was in denial about Rona then and many still are but CT Pan saw the big picture early. And wasn’t scared to show it.
Even with commissioner Monaghan on site Some golfers may still be in denial about the significance of the Olympics but it’s getting harder and harder to do so. Players whom do not show up moving forward clearly only play for money, because if they play for glory at all, they will be here every chance they get.
Even without 10s of thousands of Japanese fans going nuts, this Olympic golf competition was clearly bigger than most; don’t take my word for it; just ask the Rory who didn’t quite win a medal. Golfs unofficial leader is all in, which will only make more great golfers be all in.
Olympic golf is not only here to stay, it’s significance is already huge, bigger than most, which is scary considering it is still growing.
Tom Edrington
Truth be known, Sabbatini was one of the most unliked players on tour in his prime; I hated to see him shoot 61 (the truth); Looking forward to the women this week as they are more vested and excited about these games; 1-14 in the world rankings are competing, No. 15 was ranked too low to make the South Korea squad; I will tell you this, you WILL NOT see two players ranked outside 200 win medals in the women’s competition.
baxter cepeda
Probably so on the women…But never say never.
As for sabbatini, he’s been a rough character —he literally played past Ben Crane playing in the group ahead of him once— but Rory clearly has softened his act.
He’s been a new man for a long time now. He has probably changed more than anyone in golf. He did and said all the right things this week. His successful Olympic mission officially makes him alright with me.
Tom Edrington
I still say BLEAH to RS — you can have him every day and twice on Sundays…..truth be known, he became a Slovakian citizen because he knew he’d NEVER be able to represent South Africa…..let’s ask his ex-wife about him…..lol
baxter cepeda
He may have considering some of the top South Africans tend to WD.
Tom Edrington
Nope, too many good young players like Garrick Higgo can run circles around him…