A long layoff from an injury is no laughing matter. For Xander Schauffele, his rib injury forced him out for nearly two months and set his momentum back a few paces as well. Coming off a two-major winning season, Schauffele was seemingly looking to take a leap, but since his return from the injury, he has hardly made a splash with his best finish coming at the Masters (T8). It is his only top 10 finish so far — a far cry from a man who was once among the leading golfers with a chance to complete the iconic Career Grand Slam.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast with Jamie Weir, Xander Schauffele opened up about the possibility of achieving a Career Grand Slam, something he had just seen Rory McIlroy accomplish at Augusta a few weeks before. “It is something that I have written down a long time ago. Up until last year, it was way out in the stars. Obviously, [now] it seems like I can almost maybe grasp it,” Schauffele stated candidly.

Till last year, Schauffele was without a major title. But he played some exceptional golf during the middle of the last season to claim victory at the 2024 PGA Championship and the 2024 The Open Championship, to tick two big boxes in his win column. He now has the Masters and the U.S. Open remaining to complete the legendary Career Grand Slam. He has been extremely close at both finishing T2 at the Masters and T3 at the US Open, both in 2019. He also has a remarkable record in the majors, having 12 straight finishes in the top 20.

But he knows it is still a long way away. Schauffele had missed a huge chunk of the beginning of the 2025 PGA Tour season due to an intercostal rib strain and cartilage tear. Since his return, he hasn’t been exactly the same. He slipped one place in the rankings after his return, as he is yet to finish in the top 5 at any of the PGA Tour events so far. So there is a lot more work that needs to be done, and the 31-year-old knows that.

The World No. 3 added, “A lot more hard work and good fortune needs to come my way to pull that off. It is something that is fun for me to try and achieve in my career.” While the Career Grand Slam will be fresh in his mind, there are also two big major defenses coming up for the San Diego native. He will first defend his PGA Championship title at the Quail Hollow Club in May of this year. Schauffele has had a good record at the course, having finished 2 in the 2023 and the 2024 Wells Fargo Championships. “It is a place that seems to fit my eye. I haven’t won there, but I have played really well. So, hoping to keep good vibes going into that week,” Schauffele further stated.

A career Grand Slam is still a bit far away for him, but he does believe that some people are a bit closer than he is.

Xander Schauffele’s picks for the next Career Grand Slam

Rory McIlroy became just the sixth person to achieve the Career Grand Slam. The Northern Irish golfer joined a celebrated list of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. It is a difficult task to achieve and requires high levels of quality and consistency on the golf course to do the same. “There is a good reason that there are only six or seven people who have done it,” Schauffele ruminated.

According to Schauffele, “This is sort of a generational type. Jordan’s the next closest, I believe. Phil was there forever. I know Phil in his mind, he is still thinking he is going to win this year’s Open.” Spieth has one each of the Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship, all part of a legendary run from 2015 to 2017. He finished 2 in the PGA Championship in 2015, inches away from a Career Grand Slam.

Phil Mickelson, on the other hand, has won six majors in total. What’s he missing? The coveted Open Championship, where he finished T2 on six occasions. It does not come closer than that.

Schauffele understands the gravity of the achievement and it is not something that should be taken for granted, stating, “It took Rory 11 years.” So in time it should happen, but patience is the key word.

Who do you think is best suited to complete the next Career Grand Slam?