“Major champ” - Steph Curry shouts out first-time PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele
Steph Curry and golf are inseparable. The Golden State Warriors star, who won the 2023 American Century Championship - a celebrity golf tournament - is likely enjoying the fairways as part of his long offseason. He isn’t too far away when it comes to news about the other sport he loves to play outside of basketball.
On Sunday, Xander Schauffele broke through when it came to major titles by winning the PGA Championship over Bryson DeChambeau. The San Diego, California native sank a 6-foot-birdie to finish with a 6-under 65, the lowest score any golfer has put together in major championship history.
It didn’t take long for Steph Curry to react to Schauffele’s record-breaking performance on Instagram:
“Major Champ”
The closest Xander Schauffele came to lifting a major trophy was back in 2019 when he finished tied for second for the Masters. Schauffele and the rest of the field were a distant memory in what was likely Tiger Woods’ last moment of glory in a major. Sunday was finally Schauffele's time when he managed to avoid a playoff with DeChambeau to win the PGA Championship.
Steph Curry’s biggest claim to fame in golf was winning at Lake Tahoe last year. He had a hole-in-one that went viral before eventually sinking a putt on the 18th hole to bag the American Century Championship. Curry’s win wasn’t in the majors, but it has become the legendary basketball player’s iconic moment on the greens.
Does Steph Curry have a chance of succeeding in the PGA Tour?
As one of the NBA’s deadliest shooters, Steph Curry is often unstoppable on the basketball court. But going up against the best on the fairways of the PGA Tour isn’t likely on Curry’s cards. He will need more than just plenty of practice to earn a spot in the said competition.
In 2018, he joined the Web.com Ellie Mae Classic, a mini-tournament event, and missed the cut. He had an opening round of 71, which was quite impressive but concluded his performance with a 16-over 86 to end up last among 154 participants.
Steph Curry will have more time to play golf once he retires from terrorizing opponents on the basketball court. But, he will be closer or even past 40 when that happens. There is too much to catch up on for him to sniff the PGA Tour. He will remain, however, one of the best celebrities to play the sport.