Smylie Kaufman is joined by two-time major champion Xander Schauffele on our latest longform conversation with a Tour pro on "The Smylie Show." We go all the way back to Xander's college days, the pressures of Q School and the Korn Ferry Tour that followed, and the manner in which he bursted onto the PGA TOUR scene. Xander details several key moments during that rookie year that were pivotal in his development, his near misses at majors in the ensuing years, and what it felt like to finally win one - and then another one - in 2024. We finally let Xander (and his two dogs) go to complete their move to a new home, but not without some cigar talk and a hilarious fishing story from his rookie year.
Chapters
00:00 Xander's Moving Experience
02:00 Eating Habits and Cigar Culture
03:52 Adjusting to Florida Life with Pets
05:04 College Journey and Early Career
07:53 Transitioning to Professional Golf
10:56 Challenges on the Korn Ferry Tour
13:51 First PGA Tour Experiences
16:54 Breakthrough at Erin Hills
19:50 Winning on the PGA Tour
24:45 The Journey to Success
28:32 Mentality and Growth in Golf
30:58 The Road to Major Championships
38:34 Overcoming Challenges in Major Tournaments
49:24 Validation and Future Aspirations