plusFORE, February 2016
BEYOND THE NUMBERS perhaps all one need presently know about San Diegan Alexander Xander Schauffele is that his long time short game coach Derek Uyeda likens his young players path to that of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers An overlooked and underappreciated talent that will not be denied the pinnacle of his sport Schauffeles climb to joining golfs elite can be traced back to 2011 when he claimed the CIF State High School Championship as a senior at Scripps Ranch High three years later as a junior at San Diego State University Schauffele bested SoCal contemporary Beau Hossler in match play to capture the California Amateur Championship at La Costa in one of the finest final matches in event history And so began the now 22 year olds whirlwind After earning third team All American honors and graduating from SDSU in the summer of 2015 in December Schauffele earned full Web com Tour status by making the Q Schools mark on the number with a par on his final hole In January before ever debuting on the Web com Tour Schauffele was granted not one but two PGA TOUR sponsors exemptions in his native SoCal The transition has been quick he said the day before his PGA TOUR debut at the CareerBuilder Challenge I graduated in June and was playing college events basically up until then And now its January and Ive got my Web com Tour card and Ive got two PGA TOUR starts Obviously Ive dreamt of this But I didnt see it happening so fast Im trying to embrace everything and see how it all works out Its awesome Its a lot but its awesome Of course PGA TOUR golf is about far more than just shot making theres also adjusting to the din of activity at every turn Ive been trying to get myself comfortable he said With all the tents everywhere and people running around this is like a circus to me Im used to going to a course and saying Hi to a couple of guys These guys have no idea who I am but I know who they are just from watching television But I feel like I got all that out of the way so when I see these guys now Im trying to compete Im here to play against them and not idolize them Though Schauffele would not make the three day cut at CareerBuilder his play showed no semblance of intimidation or idolatry Playing three courses in three days he posted SoCal Native Xander Schauffele Embarks on a Promising Career Path ALEXANDER GETTING GREAT By Judd Spicer I graduated in June and was playing college events basically up until then And now its January and Ive got my Web com Tour card and Ive got two PGA TOUR starts a 6 under par cumulative tally bettering his score each day and concluding his appearance with a stellar bogey free 67 upon the rotas toughest track the TPC Stadium Course And while Schauffele would not play on Sunday of the deserts annual birdie fest he nonetheless headed to the Farmers Insurance Open having bested 54 players Zach Johnson and Billy Horschel among them in the La Quinta field
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