TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 30, 2024

Xander Schauffele

East Lake Golf Club

Quick Quotes

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It was better. It was nice to finish off with two big putts. Pretty dark out, so happy those two went in. Keeps the momentum from what was a pretty good round. Still had those two left balls, pretty far left on 16 and 17 make me want to go right to the range right now.

Q. I know it's just a Friday, but is there any part of you that felt any pressure to have a good one today to keep it from getting too far away?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, absolutely. I played with Scottie yesterday, so this course right now with how firm the greens are, it's a ball-striking type deal where you have to be in the fairways and hit your number, and he's been killing everyone at that all year. I know he's not going to let up, so there's only one way to get him.

Q. You seemed like you were really dialed in with the putter today.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It was better, yeah. I putted poorly yesterday, so I called it -- didn't feel that bad over the putter yesterday, just missed one putt inside six feet and then brushed a couple by the edge. It was nice to see some balls go in.

Q. How would you describe the challenge of trying to reel in Scottie Scheffler at the halfway point with him having a significantly --

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, it's really up to him, to be honest. I have to play out of my "beep" to sniff. Being two back and then shooting 1-under yesterday and him shooting low round of the day, it's just not the start I needed. A sense of urgency today to try and pick some up.

He's probably going to birdie or have a good look at chipping in there on the last, and I may end up right where I started. Just got to keep my head down.

Q. How did you play 18? Can you get to the green from where you were?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I hit a 5-iron and tried to play up to the front edge. Where Adam Scott hit it was a really good spot. You can putt or chip it, whatever you like. Kind of got on top of it and hooked it left off that slope.

If you get in the bunkers it's kind of okay, actually. The angle lets you just dump it down the green and run to the hole, but the fairway there, it's nice you can kind of get under the ball, but it wasn't a great spot to hit it close. You have to really clip it.

Q. You seemed to put a lot of importance on that par putt on 17.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, it was a kind of narrow window. I knew I wanted to hit it over the green. I got that first job done, and then kind of hit a lazy-ish chip that really landed kind of half and half. I was trying to land it just on or into the hill, and it kind of landed right in the middle and shot up the hill. It's pretty obvious how it's going to react, which is nice. Hit a bad chip and then was able to make a really nice putt.

Q. A score is a score, but is there a part of you that feels like you can't make a bogey?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I mean, I was looking bogey straight in the eye there on 17. I had to play a putt that broke about two feet downhill in the darkish weather. It's not one I want to hit again, I can tell you that.