GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN

July 9, 2022

Xander Schauffele

The Renaissance Club

Quick Quotes

Q. 72 but then 65, 66. Anything in particular change? What turned around after the draw?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I've been battling that, a few shots I'm never going to get back, I just know I have to be better. If you're trying to win, when you're on the bad side, you just have to be better. I think the most recent person to do, it J.T. at the PGA. I gave him a lot of credit for it and when I talked to him, I thought it was impressive because it usually doesn't end that up way. Just trying to be better I guess.

Q. Tough finish at the Renaissance course but solid round of golf, 66.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I had pretty much everything going. I was judging the bounces well and making sort of the putts I need to and getting up-and-down when I was missing the green. Six birdies through 16, no complaints, and a tough finish.

I'll go to the range, get some better feels going into tomorrow but those are hard finishing holes. So overall, pretty okay with the day.

Q. And going into tomorrow, this is obviously a very prestigious week, co-sanctioned, PGA TOUR and DP World Tour, Rolex Series, but the icing on the cake, how high is it on your bucket list to win in the Home of Golf in Scotland?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I don't want to think too far ahead but it would be very nice. It would be very special. It just proves that the game can travel, and beating an incredible field, one of the best of the year. I'm just going to focus on what I can do now and not get too carried away.

Q. Are you comfortable leading from the front?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I think so, getting more. Haven't done it too often. 3 o'clock tee times are a bit of a stretch for me. Be nice if it was closer to noon to get the ball going but we'll figure it out.

You see players do it all the time, you get in the good swing of things, start to get comfortable seeing certain shots and seeing certain putts go in. Players always have good stretches and trying to make this one of my best.

Q. You've said in the past that you've struggled with Sundays, you just blink and they have gone and you're left thinking, what happened. In the wind in Scotland, how are you going to make it a good Sunday tomorrow?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Keeping everything in front of me. Just if you play really solid golf with a lead, you're going to win. That's just how it works out here. Going to have to go and clean a few things up on the range. I didn't really like how I finished. Just heard that's hardest finishing hole on the PGA TOUR, so I guess that make me feel a little bit better. But it's not good for me mentally.

I just sort of started off very comfortable, warmed up nice, been hitting it well. Probably made some of the worst swings I've made all day at the end there, but yeah, I just kind of have to clean it up.

Through 10 and 11, it's not like I hit it great. I just kept it really clean. I think I played very smart and was able to capitalise. I hit a provisional tee ball on 11 and made birdie. That doesn't happen too often. I will happily do that tomorrow as well if I have to.

Q. Was it left?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It was right. I lost a tee ball right on 10 and right on 11. Pretty sure I know what was. Just want to go and get a few swings in before I have dinner.

Q. Where was it sitting?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It was sitting okay; obviously I made birdie. Wanted an extra practise swing. Colt is the one that stuck it to me, "Nice birdie on a provisional." Wouldn't have really thought about it if he didn't say that.

Q. Having won the Travelers with a 54-hole lead, does that mean something to you?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I think it means more to you guys than it does to me.

Q. That's why I asked.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Of course it means a lot to me. That's what I want to do. I'll take a win any time, any way. But I'm not picky. Of course it feels better, more rewarding.

Q. Looking at the run you've been on since New Orleans, is there anything you're doing in your game that's maybe more consistent that's allowed you to be so consistent with your finishes?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Not really sure. I think we've tried -- our team, we try to make things good in every department, that's what they pride themselves in.

We're just trying to get better. I feel like if you're talking about stats and everything like that, and translating it to a win or me playing more consistently, I don't know how to speak to that because I feel like more the most part, my stats have been pretty solid overall. I've gotten better around the greens as I've been out here a little bit longer and getting a little bit more comfortable.

Q. You said you had a couple of bad swings, but how much confidence does it give you even though you're not swinging it the best, you still are leading by two shots going into Sunday?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It's links golf, once again, as long as you can find your ball and advance it, that's usually the best way to do it. For the most part we did those things really well, and if we can do those things tomorrow, we'll be in good shape.