World No. 2 Xander Schauffele stated on Tuesday, forward of the BMW Championship in Citadel Rock, Colo., that there’s a special motivating issue on his thoughts than prize cash at this stage of his profession — turning that No. 2 right into a No. 1.
It received’t occur anytime quickly as a result of Scottie Scheffler has constructed up an unimpeachable lead within the Official World Golf Rating’s factors system. In nearly another state of affairs, Schauffele — who received his first two profession main championships this yr — would have carried out sufficient to ascend to No. 1.
“Turning into No. 1 on the earth? It’s a really massive objective of mine, sure,” Schauffele instructed reporters, “and I’ve been instructed, sure, that Scottie is an outlier in a number of years, and I’d be (No. 1). Nevertheless it’s not likely adequate, is it?
“That doesn’t take away from what I’ve carried out or how I really feel. I’m proud with the work that I’ve put in and with the individuals which might be round me and which have helped me. … I’m simply going to maintain knocking. That’s what I do.”
Schauffele continued his excessive reward for Scheffler, who added an Olympic gold medal to his six PGA Tour victories this season.
For the second straight week, the 2 Individuals had been paired collectively for the primary two rounds of the BMW, the center of three legs of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Schauffele was requested if he ever will get caught up within the battle between them; they’re competing not just for FedEx Cup factors and world rating factors, but in addition the PGA Tour Participant of the Yr award.
“I really feel like we sort of have a look at it similarly. We’re actually simply taking part in towards ourselves and the golf course,” Schauffele stated. “The rating actually is only a end result. Some days you play very well and shoot 69 and a few days you sort of play crappy and shoot 66. So I believe sticking to your course of, what’s gotten us this far, goes to be vital and not likely getting too emotional about what’s taking place round us.”
Schauffele did have some pointed critiques for a way sports activities media has coated the explosion in golf purses at each LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.
“The media has been an fascinating factor to me the final two or three years,” he stated. “There’s a purpose behind inflated purses and lots of people have been speaking about cash. The information that I do learn, it’s humorous, it’s actually destructive. It’s painted actually negatively in golf, which is okay. I believe individuals prefer to hate on something nowadays.
“However after I have a look at different sports activities, when somebody will get a $300 million contract, there’s all these optimistic feedback about how somebody obtained their bag or they’ve labored so onerous to get this and so they deserve it, issues like that. It’s fascinating to me. I believe perhaps golf is a gents’s recreation and also you’re not supposed to speak about cash, however all of the media desires to do is discuss cash.
“Us gamers, I believe the gamers that take advantage of cash don’t take into consideration cash as a result of it’s simply not an important factor.”
Schauffele identified that Scheffler has earned each little bit of the $29.1 million he has received this season as a result of he has been that a lot better than the sphere. (Schauffele ranks second on the cash checklist this yr at $17.6 million.)
“Should you have a look at how a lot Tenth has made, the Tenth-best participant on the earth, it’s not going to smell how a lot Scottie has made,” Schauffele stated. “That simply reveals you ways effectively Scottie has performed in these massive tournaments.
“You have a look at the No. 1 quarterback, he’s getting $60 million after which the No. 10 quarterback is getting 52, after which No. 15 is getting 39 or 40. So it’s like, clearly there’s far more cash in soccer with TV and all the things that’s surrounding it. It’s onerous to check the one-v-one as a result of Scottie has simply been that rather more elite, and I believe he deserves all the things that he’s getting.”