Xander Schauffele sums up Olympics with claim about PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars
Xander Schauffele admitted golf’s elite are more desperate to finish in the top three of the Olympic Games than other traditional competitions.
The American has won two majors over the course of his career and boasts nine wins across the PGA Tour. Yet, Schauffele, who was crowned victor in The Open and The PGA Championship this year, insisted the Olympics would be treated with the upmost respect by himself, his PGA colleagues, and those who defected to LIV Golf
Schauffele, 30, proved they weren’t empty words too, ending round three in Paris joint first with Jon Rahm of Spain, while Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood was in third, just one shot behind.
With a podium place in reach and the chance to take home one of the Games’ iconic medals, Schauffele said all players are determined to finish in the top three and it means even more than normal to them.
Prior to the start of golf’s rounds at the 2024 Olympics, when asked to compare players’ attitudes towards the Games in comparison with the majors by the Pardon My Take podcast, Schauffele said: “It’s pretty different. You’re essentially on a team.
“I approach it the same way (as a Major) to be honest. It’s a 72-hole stroke play and there’s 60 guys and everyone is playing under their country and everyone wants to win.”
