THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 21, 2022

Xander Schauffele

Quail Hollow Club

Press Conference

Q. I have it on good authority that Dean at Noble Smoke brought you guys some barbecue. Was that in the team room?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: No, we went there.

Q. You went there. Did you see the smokehouse?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Most of our team did.

Q. Most of your team. Could you talk a little bit about that experience, where did you guys eat, what was your favorite, what did you like? How did that come together?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I believe him and Davis are good buddies. I know Davis and Drew went there three or four times the week that Davis was helping Drew out in a tournament. So I'm assuming they go pretty far back. We were able to meet Dean there.

Yeah, it was really good. We had brisket. We had hush puppies. We had chicken, like kind of a spicy chicken, three types of sauces, mac and cheese, two different kinds of coleslaw. One more protein.

Q. Pulled pork maybe?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Pulled pork, thank you. Yeah, it was a very nice evening.

Q. What was the highlight for you?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I don't know. It was just really relaxing. It was nice.

Q. Do you like barbecue?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: A little bit. My dad loves barbecue, and my caddie loves barbecue. It's not on the top of my list, but I do enjoy it if it's done correctly, and obviously it was done correctly. So I did enjoy it very much.

Q. Doing stuff like that on a week like this, is that a good way to unwind the team?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I think so. We started outside, a little open bar there, appetizers. We were all hanging out waiting for guys to finish up practicing, which was perfect. We moved along inside. It was family style, big old tables with our team spread out everywhere. It was very enjoyable.

Q. Xander, what's it like being such a big favorite here, even more so than normal years, given the guys that left for LIV?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: No different. Just feeling really lucky. Our team, if you look at each individual on our team, everyone's kind of in their own way had to overcome something or used these team events as a springboard into becoming something.

We have a really hungry team. It's definitely a special one to be on.

Q. How is it a springboard for you?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Just more experience. These team events are fun. It's great to hang out with the guys. Such a different environment. Most of us, we're trying to take a little bit of time off but didn't want to take too much time off, obviously, with this event around the corner.

Not looking too far ahead, but really just want to play well this week and get some points up on the board for my guys.

Q. There's obviously a huge difference between the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup. You've played in both. How would you describe the difference?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I'm not sure. They kind of seem not too different. I'd say they're becoming closer to each other than in previous years, I feel like, with crowds and making that 1st tee shot really special and everything that goes on with sort of the organization with the team rooms and the interactions and the coaches and a lot of familiar faces.

I'd have to sit here and think about what the big differences would be.

Q. Spoke of the idea yesterday how there's almost bragging rights on the team where guys want to get the most points, they don't want to be the guy with the fewer points. Can you speak to that mentality shared among you guys?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It's just competitive. Our everyday matches we play are very competitive. Pat and I played against Jordan and J.T. yesterday, and today we played against Tony and Max. So all very different, but we share the same sort of grit and fight and the want to win. So it is really special because of that.

Q. How did you do yesterday?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Not great to be honest. We'll leave that for the rest of the week here. We ended up losing to J.T. and Jordan, and that's a brutal pair to lose to because they're sore winners. They like to rub it in your face.

Q. I asked this question of Max yesterday. What was your AIM user name growing up? AOL Instant Messenger?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I don't even know. I remember hopping on after school. I'm not going to remember. I don't know.

Q. Max's was Next Tiger Woods 59. So I didn't know if --

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Okay. That's nice.

Q. What's it been like playing for Davis Love III?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Super chill, very relaxing. He was a vice captain in previous Cups that I've played in, whether it was a Ryder Cup or a Presidents Cup. He sort of, I think, realized that this sort of new influx of younger guys really enjoy a relaxed environment. We like to sort of get prepared on our own. Then when it comes to sessions in preparation, we like to compete.

They've done a good job of making sure we have enough time for ourselves to sort of recover, to do anything we need to do in order to get ready.

Q. How about Webb Simpson?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Webb's one of my favorite guys out here. I know he wants to play so bad. It's sort of weird seeing him in the role that he's in. He played last week. He's been nursing that injury to his neck.

I'm hoping that he'll be on the team in the future.

Q. Has he helped you around the golf course at all? Talk to you about some of the hidden ways to play this golf course?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I wouldn't say so. He just sort of was giving updates on sort of what the course is going to look like coming in, living on property.

He just brings just a really sort of comfortable feel. He's so positive, and he's such a player to have around and such a nice guy to just talk to sort of in between shots. I think everyone on the team really enjoys having him out here.

Q. If they put together a PGA TOUR-LIV Golf team event, would you play in that?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Like a Cup against each other?

Q. 12 best of them, 12 best from the PGA TOUR.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I don't even know how that would look like. I'm all for competition. Logistically, it sounds like a nightmare just considering what's been happening, in terms of like who would run the event or everyone getting together behind the scenes. I think it would probably be less of an issue with the people actually competing versus sort of getting the structure in place.

But competition is good for viewers, and it's good for golf. I really don't even know how to answer that question from a personal standpoint.

Q. J.T. was a hard no, Billy Horschel said, yeah, I would do it.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It's easy to say one or the other, you know what I mean? If it's in a sick venue and organized really well and looks something like this, it's what we all play for.

Obviously with what's been happening with the two sides and being on this side of the fence or that side of the fence, it's kind of just another hypothetical.

Q. Do you get tired of being asked the LIV Golf questions?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I don't really get asked too much, to be honest. I don't get hounded down by too many questions about it. It's part of the job to answer questions that you guys ask us. That's why I'm standing here.

Q. You and Patrick get asked a lot about your friendship and everything. You play a lot of practice rounds together. Why are you guys such a great team in these competitions? Where did the friendship kind of really begin to grow?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: If the Presidents Cup, playing every match with him was a catalyst, that would have been it with our friendship. We were sort of put in the fire there playing all matches. We're both rookies there. We knew each other pretty well, but you get to know each other really well when you're in these team rooms and it's nitty gritty and you've got girlfriends or wives out. It's sort of all encompassing when you play in these events from a team aspect.

Probably in Australia is when we became very close, and we've continued our friendship from there.

Q. What did you learn about him in Australia that has kind of continued to foster that relationship going forward, that you liked so much?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: He's a straight-up guy. You guys know my dad fairly well. He's a straight shooter. Maybe a little more sarcastic. I get to see a different side of Pat probably than you guys do, and I appreciate that sarcasm that he can bring at times. But at the same time, he's probably the most linear person I know.

If you want an honest answer, just ask him, and he'll probably tell you.

Q. It seems statistically the internationals have struggled in foursomes. Why do you think the U.S. is better?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Is that alternate shot?

Q. Yes.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I don't know. I couldn't tell you. I feel like we got throttled in Australia for a bit of that. So my other experience in the Presidents Cup was not like one of them struggling. It didn't feel like they were struggling. We were struggling.

I'm not really sure. Maybe the individual players on our team have different shot shapes and they're easier to pair up that way. Maybe a lot of guys on our team play the same golf ball. There's so many little factors that come into play when you play foursomes that need to align.

If you're playing different balls and you really like that person, it may not work out because it can really affect how you shape shots and how you play the game.

Q. I guess with you and Pat, why do you think you pair so well with him?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: We kind of see shots in a certain -- our style of play is very similar. Throw it to the fat part of the greens, try to take advantage of par-5s, low stress. We try to keep it -- today was stressful obviously in our match. We ended up tying it against Max and Tony.

For the most part, we sort of see shots the same way, and I think that's why our guys say foursomes is so good for us versus best ball.

Q. I want to know about your experience back in 2016 in Colombia when you saw Sebastian Munoz win in his hometown. How was the public? How was the environment?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: In Bogota, 8,000 feet, it was one of my first Korn Ferry events, Web.com at the time. I didn't know anyone, but I did know that Sebastian was a fan favorite, being rather local there, and the people and the fans of the city showed out in full form there to support him all the way to the end.

Q. If you play against him this week, do you consider him an underdog?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I look at Sebastian as someone who can shoot 61 on any day. Because of that, I would never consider him an underdog.

I know him fairly well out here in passing and in competing. So I would love to play against him.

Q. The vice captains were asked this this afternoon. Why Freddie is so popular with the team. What is your take?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: He just has this sort of vibe about him. It's very So Cal. If you get to know him really well, he kind of worries and stresses out more than you think, but Freddie's great.

He has a very nice balance of work and play. He cares a lot. He's very involved, and he just wants the best for everyone, and everyone can genuinely feel that.

Q. If I remember the story correctly, he kind of got (indiscernible) about you getting paired.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, he was very vocal about it. He saw us play. He'd seen a lot of people play in his career, and he thought it would be a great match.

(Sneezing).

Excuse me. I'm allergic to Bermuda, so it's been a rough week.

Q. Are you really?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah. Antihistamines are kicking in. I'm about to fall asleep.

Q. Do you still get jitters about the 1st tee?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, jitters, anxiousness, excitement, of course. As soon as you make contact and walk off, it doesn't really matter where the ball goes. You pretty much shake them off.

Q. Do you have a strategy for dealing with that?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, just swing really hard and go find your ball. It's been working for me up to this point. So I'm going to keep doing it.

Q. What have you learned from being around some of the guys in the team room this week? Have you picked up anything for your game?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Fortunately, a lot of familiar faces, a lot of practice rounds in tournaments where we play against each other. So it's kind of cool to have them on my team.

When I sit back and look at our team room, I just feel lucky to be on this team and very honored and just realize how special of a group all these guys are. So really trying to make something special this week, and I think we're all on the same page to do that.

Q. Did you pack some cigars at all?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I may have found a little shop around the corner of the hotel and snagged a few, not just for my team in all honesty. It might be a big party on Sunday.

Q. Do you have an extra photo of that cigar?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I've been sent the photo a number of times. But, yeah, people have had enjoyment making fun of me in that situation.

Q. Given your history with Patrick, did Davis ask you who you wanted to play with?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It was kind of like, I'm assuming you want to do this. If that's cool with you guys, we're just going to run it back. So it was sort of a very chill conversation, nothing too serious.

Q. And there was no talk between you and Patrick about thank you, not this time?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: To play together? No, we were always looking forward to improving our record and trying to win some points for the USA.

Q. With each appearance in the Presidents Cup, do you feel like when you get the younger players in there on the team, that they come to you more and more the older you get, the more time you get in the team environment like this?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I'm starting to become one of the older guys out here. Thank you for the reminder.

Guys are so good now. We've got Collin, who's won two majors, so I kind of go to him for some questions. We've got Cam Young, call him fresh off the boat, but he's almost won multiple majors and he was rookie of the year.

So there isn't too much really to bounce around other than just use each other sort of in a competitive way to get better or stay sharp.

Q. That's interesting because it was mentioned during Davis' press conference yesterday talking about Jordan, multiple appearances for him now, being one of the older guys on the team with more experience. You come in fresh faced, bouncing around, ready to go, does each time kind of settle that down, or do you come in with a bigger appreciation for being a part of these events?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, you just love being a part of them. You sort of come in wide eyed, not really understanding what the whole week is about. There's a lot of functions. There's a lot of sort of -- not meet and greets, but functions, I guess, that run parallel to the tournament.

So if you're someone that likes to sit on the range for four hours and putt for an hour and chip for an hour and go play nine holes late, like that may not be able to work.

Speaking to some of the veterans, understanding sort of how to shape your week to get all the work you need in to feel comfortable to compete has sort of been something that I personally asked some of the veterans out here.

Then everyone's always willing to help you, so that's always a plus.