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Xander Schauffele: FedEx Cup Contender or Pretender?

By Tim Letcher

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Xander Schauffele of the United States plays a shot during a practice round for The PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2019 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Xander Schauffele of the United States plays a shot during a practice round for The PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2019 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Xander Schauffele is one of golf’s brightest young stars. Can he compete for this year’s FedEx Cup?

Xander Schauffele wasted little time in establishing himself as one of the best players on the PGA Tour. In just his fourth year on tour, Schauffele is already seen as one of the best players in the world. And he’s still just 26 years old.

During his rookie season in 2017, Schauffele immediately established himself as a force to be reckoned with on tour. Schauffele entered 28 events that season and made 20 cuts. As the season went on, he became more and more comfortable playing against the world’s best players.

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He earned his first win on the PGA Tour at the Greenbrier Classic in 2017 at just 23 years of age. Schauffele also tied for fifth in the U.S. Open that summer and he finished his season by winning the Tour Championship, boosting him to a third place finish in the FedEx Cup standings.

The following season, Schauffele did not win, but he did make 22 of 27 cuts and had two significant second-place finishes. He finished in a tie for second place at the Players Championship and also tied for second at the Open Championship.

In 2019, Schauffele got back in the win column, registering wins at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He made 18 of 21 cuts and notched six top 10 finishes. He finished in second place at the Tour Championship, allowing him to finish second in the season-long FedEx Cup standings.

The 2020 season has been a continuation of Schauffele’s solid play. In eight events so far this season, Schauffele has made seven cuts, including a pair of second-place finishes. He was second alone in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and he tied for second at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He also tied for 10th at the Zozo Championship.

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Schauffele is, without question, one of the young stars of the game. It’s simply a matter of time before he wins a major and, likely, a FedEx Cup championship. He has proven that he can handle the playoffs and that he loves East Lake, home of the Tour Championship. If he can get himself in position prior to that event, there’s no doubt he can pull off a FedEx Cup championship. He’s definitely a contender and will be for some time to come.

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