THE SENTRY

January 4, 2024

Xander Schauffele

Plantation Course at Kapalua

Quick Quotes

Q. How would you characterize the round out there today?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Well, I got a text this morning saying it was going to be super windy, and it was pretty benign today. We had a lot of -- or, I guess we didn't have very many windy holes today. It was so variable, we kind of were, every hole it seemed like one tee shot would be down wind and the wedge would be into. Nonetheless, it felt like three or four miles an hour.

Q. When you feel like it's going to be windy, when you get that text and you find out it's not, how do you change your game plan around here?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: You just adjust. Really comfortable pairing with Collin and Tom, so just adjust to it as quickly as possible and get a little bit more aggressive. Also, no need to sort of play like 30, 40 on when you're into the wind.

Q. I think you tee off a little bit later tomorrow. Do you think there's going to be any difference in going early like you did today and later tomorrow?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I'm sure. It's really not that windy right now either. I'm sure there will be a lot more low scores, just based on the wind and the fairways firming up a little bit. But, yeah, I'm sure on the forecast, from what I saw, I saw that little breeze logo on the weather app, so I think it's going to be pretty windy tomorrow.

Q. To fire 7-under on the first round of the year, how good does that feel?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, it feels great. It was solid. Been playing a lot of golf for the last couple months, so it's nice to see some putts go in.

Q. How much does course knowledge figure in here?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I mean, I would say I just have been here enough times to sort of feel comfortable on property. So, if I was to hit a bad drive or tug one or push one, I sort of know what's coming up next, especially with the wind down.

Q. Was there anything maybe you worked on in the past few months being away from tournament golf that may have paid off today?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It would be hard to pinpoint something. Maybe just trying to going back to a little bit of something I used to do three, four years ago with the club position, but other than that, nothing too dissimilar.

Q. What was that? What position?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Trying to get a little bit more on plane. The club was getting a little bit sloppy up top and figured it was time to sort of clean that up.

Q. Anyone ask you about your 10-iron?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, Callaway, it's just a new iron. I was asking them if the putter is going to be a 14 number. But it was -- I didn't have a whole lot of pushback. I don't have to look at the 10, I know when I'm grabbing it, so no complaints.

Q. Is it a wedge?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It's just a pitching wedge.

Q. Did you hit it any good today, outside of 6?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I had a couple decent ones. Misjudged the wind on a couple holes. I chunked one as well. That was a sand wedge.