'Don't jinx it': Xander Schauffele finds confidence, starts strong at PGA Championship

Yahoo Sports3h ago12 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Xander Schauffele expresses mixed feelings about his confidence ahead of the PGA Championship, acknowledging a poor recent performance but feeling surprisingly optimistic for the upcoming tournament.

Key points

Xander Schauffele's confidence is lower than two years ago
He finished close to last place in his last tournament
Schauffele won the Wanamaker Trophy two years ago
He feels surprisingly good about the upcoming PGA Championship
Schauffele is optimistic about the rest of the year

Xander SchauffelePGA Championship

'Don't jinx it': Xander Schauffele finds confidence, starts strong at PGA Championship

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — After a poor finish that wasn’t up to his standards last week, Xander Schauffele limped into the 108th PGA Championship and was asked during his press conference on Tuesday to rate his confidence level compared to two years ago when he left with the Wanamaker Trophy in his possession.

“It's significantly lower, obviously. I finished close to last place last week,” he said.

Then came the but…“I'm actually feeling kind of good, surprisingly. It's one of those things where I tried my absolute hardest and almost came in last place last week, and that's just sometimes how a bad day in the office goes, but still beats being inside,” he said. “Yeah, I'm looking forward to this week and sort of the rest of this year.”

Schauffele was then asked whether he’d found something in his game that had buoyed his confidence.

A general view of the 10th green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Harris English of the United States walks the eighth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Q&A

What did Xander Schauffele say about his confidence level before the PGA Championship?

Xander Schauffele stated that his confidence level is significantly lower compared to two years ago, but he feels surprisingly good about the upcoming tournament.

How did Xander Schauffele perform in his last tournament before the PGA Championship?

Xander Schauffele finished close to last place in his previous tournament, which he described as a poor performance not up to his standards.

What is the significance of the Wanamaker Trophy for Xander Schauffele?

The Wanamaker Trophy is awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship, which Schauffele won two years ago, marking a high point in his career.

What are Xander Schauffele's expectations for the PGA Championship this year?

Despite his recent struggles, Schauffele is looking forward to the PGA Championship and the rest of the year, expressing a sense of optimism.