"I need to accept the challenge" - Xander Schauffele details his mental process of winning the 2024 PGA Championship
Xander Schauffele won the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club with a score of 21 under. It is his first major title and first victory since 2022.
Following that, Schauffele discussed the keys to his victory for SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. He talked about how important his mental preparation was to achieve the goal.
"It's easier to say that I can compete with the best of them [the best golfers in the world] now, winning a Wanamaker," Schauffele said. "Definitely makes me feel more comfortable in saying that. It was more of a mental process for me. I can hit all the shots. I just, I really need to accept the challenge..."
"It's a dream come true. I mean I really try to stay in my process. I didn't try to think too much of it," he added.
Xander Schauffele exhibited a very high level of golf at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. During the first round, he broke the course record with a score of 62, the lowest record in the history of the PGA Championship and all majors.
Schauffele proved his mettle. When he needed to make birdie on the 18th hole of the fourth round to win without going to the playoff, he knew how to stay focused, get the ball to the green in regulation and make the final 6-foot putt that gave him the victory.
Xander Schauffele climbed to No. 2 in world and FedEx Cup ranking after winning PGA Championship
Winning the PGA Championship is one of the most important results in men's professional golf. Thanks to this result, Xander Schauffele climbed to No. 2 in both the world ranking and the FedEx Cup ranking.
In addition, his victory grants him a lifetime exemption to the PGA Championship and the other three Majors for the next five seasons. A number of other tournaments (both on the PGA Tour and other circuits) grant exemptions to Major champions.
Winning a tournament of this type is also an important point in deciding the members of the American team for the Ryder Cup. This victory also virtually qualifies him to defend his Olympic title in Paris next summer.
Xander Schauffele had not won since the Scottish Open in 2022. However, his level had not declined, remaining steadily in the Top 10 of the world ranking.
Between the 2022 Scottish Open and the 2024 PGA Championship, Schauffele played 39 PGA Tour tournaments, without missing a single cut. He had finished in 21 Top 10s, including four second-place finishes (the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship, the 2023 TOUR Championship, the 2024 Players Championship and the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship).