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2021 Open Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Royal St. George’s

By Mike Randleman

CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND - JULY 19: Detail View of Claret Jug Open signage during the first round of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 19, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND - JULY 19: Detail View of Claret Jug Open signage during the first round of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 19, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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Jun 18, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; Xander Schauffele lays down to line up his putt on the 13th green during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; Xander Schauffele lays down to line up his putt on the 13th green during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports /

Xander Schauffele should be fairly pleased with how his links golf warm-up went last week at the Scottish Open. The American notched his third straight top-11 finish by taking T-10th and was in the mix to win in the final round. Schauffele finished four shots out of a playoff.

It was also his sixth top-20 in his last seven starts.

No one is due for a win, PGA Tour or major, like the X Man. He last triumphed at the 2019 Tournament of Champions.

Schauffele’s major championship record on the whole is better than most major winners themselves. In 17 career starts, he’s made 15 cuts and recorded nine top-10s.

This is the 27-year-old’s debut at Royal St. George’s and fourth Open Championship. Schauffele made the cut each time with T-20th in 2017 and T-2nd in 2018. He was one of four players who finished two shots behind Francesco Molinari in 2018 at Carnoustie.

The San Diego State alum was one bad swing on the 16th hole away from really pushing Hideki Matsuyama down the stretch of the 2021 Masters.

He followed with T-7th in a pressure packed U.S. Open at home in southern California.

The former San Diego State Aztec ranks top 60 on the PGA Tour in all the main strokes gained categories and is third (1.881) overall. That’s highlighted by 11th in SG putting (.602).

From 150-200 yards, Schauffele is near the top 40 in proximity.

Even if you don’t think it’s his time to win, Xander is among the safer picks for your DFS lineup.

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