Xander Schauffele, a two-time major champion, has defended the fairness of the U.S. Open conditions at Oakmont Country Club, stating that the course was ‘very fair’ and that all players faced the same challenges. Despite the brutal conditions that led to only three players finishing under par, Schauffele believed the course was more playable due to the rain, which made the fairways and greens more forgiving. He emphasized that the U.S. Open requires exceptional golf, as seen in J.J. Spaun’s late charge to victory.
Schauffele will compete in the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, where the course has been made more difficult, offering a stark contrast to the U.S. Open experience. He praised the balance of both challenging and scoring-friendly courses, calling it ‘healthy’ for the sport. While everyone wants to shoot lower scores, he admitted that having both types of golf is a good balance because playing a course where 25-under is winning for 20 weeks could be exhausting.
This year’s Travelers Championship has exactly what Schauffele wants as he aims to catch fire ahead of The Open, the FedEx Cup, and the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. He noted that the course has been modified to make it more difficult, with narrower fairways, deeper rough, and water hazards on several holes. These changes reward players for making high-quality shots, but also create scenarios where a player can be at even par without feeling great. However, he remains optimistic about the upcoming tournament, stating that it will be a stark difference from what went down in western Pennsylvania, where seven or eight birdies in a round were nearly impossible.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Schauffele expressed his excitement about the Travelers Championship, where the last seven winning scores have been significantly lower than those at the U.S. Open. He admitted there were ‘weird breaks’ during the Oakmont tournament, but stressed that players were not forced to hit into bunkers or rough; they could simply play the fairways. With a variety of challenges in his schedule, Schauffele aims to keep his momentum going as he prepares for a pivotal season in golf.