“PRO” FILE – LPGA PROFESSIONAL XANDER SCHAUFFELE

He had been knocking on the door to major championship titles for several years but could never quite close the deal. That is, until he broke through by winning the PGA Championship this past May at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Xander Schauffele wasted little time in capturing his second major championship when he blitzed the field with a final-round 66 to win The Open Championship at Royal Troon in July. Schauffele was also touted as one of the players who, once he won one major, would win multiple majors, and it was surprising to few that he affirmed that notion so quickly. The championship itself was a tense, back-and-forth affair with some of the top names in the game in contention, including world number one Scottie Scheffler, Billy Horschel and Justin Rose, until Schauffele birdied three holes on the tough back-nine stretch to win by two over Rose and Horschel.

There is talk by the pundits in saying that Schauffele should now be considered as Player of the Year for his two major victories despite Scheffler’s overall dominance in 2024, underscoring the importance that some give to the major championships. However, Scheffler did also win The Players back in March, which many consider equal to a major championship, so that comes into consideration. Schauffele will certainly have a strong say in who wins that award in the coming months ahead.