Xander Schauffele vows to back off after Jordan Speith disaster and acting ‘like a toddler’

Xander Schauffele has been out of action since early January with a rib injury but will finally make his long-awaited comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Xander Schauffele is making his return to golf after two months out with injury – but the two-time major winner admitted he doesn’t want to follow in Jordan Spieth’s footsteps.

The 31-year-old last appeared on the green in January for the season-opening The Sentry before competing in the inaugural TGL match, which turned out to be his last match until this week despite feeling pain in his side. Schauffele – who continued working out without his trainer who was out of town – admitted he acted like a “toddler” without having somebody by his side.

He was forced to miss two events at Torrey Pines in San Diego after being diagnosed with a intercostal strain – which is a tear in his rib cartilage. “It was a kind of perfect storm, I was left on my own and apparently I’m still a toddler,” he said on Wednesday.

I kept training and golfing and training and golfing, and I’m used to having someone either hold my hand or do something as simple as soft tissue. I didn’t get any help and I think that is sort of what put my back against the wall.”

The injury ruled out the two-time major champion for two months but has now made his return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational which begins on Thursday. While admitting he’s arrived rusty after a lengthy absence, returning fully healthy was his main focus, especially after watching the injury crises of Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth who’ve been forced to undergo surgery.