With dad in new role, Xander Schauffele looks to defend Olympic gold

“He’s like, ‘I have no clue how far we’re going to get,’” Schauffele recalls his dad telling him at a younger age.

Stefan Schauffele, whose Olympic dreams as a German decathlete were wiped out by a drunk driver in a 1986 car crash, channeled his energy into helping his son reach his potential as an athlete, which hit a crescendo with a gold medal in Tokyo. At the time, the younger Schauffele was a steady TOUR pro with four wins on his resume and a promising track record in majors, but whispers lingered as to his abilities to win the game’s biggest titles.

Schauffele looks to defend his Olympic gold this week at Le Golf National, having answered these questions and reached a new crescendo.

Schauffele arrived in Paris for the men’s Olympic golf competition as a two-time major winner this season, adding The Open at Royal Troon two weeks ago to his breakthrough at the PGA Championship in May, and he suddenly has a chance to challenge world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (a six-time TOUR winner this season, including the Masters and THE PLAYERS Championship) for PGA TOUR Player of the Year honors.

Much has changed in Schauffele’s golf life, including on the instruction side. His dad no longer serves as his swing coach and wasn’t even on-site at the PGA Championship, joyously watching from a Hawaiian island, but he was there at The Open and will watch the men’s Olympic golf competition as a father and supporter. Schauffele now works on the swing with Chris Como; the two have long held a close relationship, and Como’s fresh set of eyes (and biomechanics acumen) have helped Schauffele find the extra edge to break through in majors.