WATCH: Xander Schauffele gets an early birthday cake in Japan; Gets trolled while making a wish
Xander Schauffele is turning 31 on Friday, October 25, but he got an early birthday cake as he is in Tokyo, Japan, for the Zozo Championship this week. The PGA Tour shared a video on X showing him being surprised with the cake.
On Thursday, the PGA Tour posted a video on X showing the Narashino Country Club celebrating Schauffele's birthday with a cake. Everyone first sang "Happy Birthday" before the golfer was asked to make a wish.
"Try not to make it nine today," Shauffele replied.
For the uninitiated, the two-time major champion was poking fun at himself after making an eight during the first round of the Zozo Championship.
Here's the clip:
Earlier, the World No. 2 ranked golfer shot 3-over 73 in the opening round on Thursday, October 24. He picked up just one birdie in the round, but his scorecard was affected due to the quadruple bogey on the par-4, ninth hole.
"I thought at worst I would hit the ball, hit the tree and go somewhere," Schauffele said in the post round interview. "The worst thing happened, the worst thing that could have happened happened twice."
"Just a combination of being overconfident and being really stubborn and it sometimes pays off for me in tournaments and today it bit me in the a**," he added.
Xander Schauffele makes a good recovery after his first-round hiccup at the Zozo Championship
It looked like Xander Schauffele's birthday wish was granted, as he carded a bogey-free 5-under 65 in the second round of the Zozo Championship after a disastrous opening round.
During the post-round interview, Schauffele appeared satisfied with his second-round performance.
"It was better, a little bit -- I mean, besides one hole yesterday, I kind of fed off of a lot of my holes and I probably hit the ball a little bit better today. Missed some makeable putts and made some ones I shouldn't make, so all in all it was a pretty solid day," he said on Friday,.
As of now, Nico Echavarria holds the 36-hole, two-shot lead at the Zozo Championship after shooting back-to-back 64s. Taylor Moore, who opened with a 63, carded a 3-under 67 in the second round to aggregate at 10-under.
As for Xander Schauffele, he is tied for 42nd at 2-under, but he doesn't need to worry as there is no cut line in this week's PGA Tour event.