Xander Schauffele is still basking in the glow of winning his first major at the PGA Championship. But on Wednesday, he seemed to have just as much fun looking back on a money match with Phil Mickelson.
After securing the Wanamaker Trophy, Schauffele made an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show as part of the customary media tour undertaken by any victorious major champion. The highlight of the interview occurred when Eisen inquired about Schauffele’s past experiences with achieving a hole-in-one.
It was unexpected that Schauffele didn’t have any hole-in-ones until he turned 25, when he achieved his first one at the 2019 Tour Championship alongside Rory McIlroy. His second one, less than a year later during the Covid lockdown, was even more unforgettable.
Xander Schauffele elaborated that he had the upper hand against Mickelson towards the end of the match, prompting Lefty to take a risk. Evidently, this was during a time when Mickelson was more inclined towards taking chances, unlike his current approach. However, the gamble did not pay off, as Schauffele responded to Phil’s impressive shot with an even more remarkable one that resulted in a hole-in-one.
“He appeared visibly stunned, sitting on the box as if he had just been dealt a heavy blow,” Schauffele recounted, while Eisen erupted into applause and laughter.
Great stuff—and what a dagger for Phil. Check out the clip:
Phil deserves credit for making a strong comeback. Winning his sixth career major at the 2021 PGA Championship about a year later, he attributed his success to his matches with Schauffele, a fellow San Diegan. From sitting on that box to lifting the Wanamaker Trophy, Phil’s journey is truly inspiring.
Xander, on the other hand, now has his own trophy to cherish—along with a few memorable hole-in-one stories.
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