Two major victories in one year sounds like a dream, right? Well, not for Xander Schauffele. The golfer had the 2024 season in his palm as he won both the PGA Championship and the Open that too, with amazing scores of -21 and -9. However, his recent journey hasn’t been without its setbacks.

A pesky intercostal strain sidelined Schauffele from big events like Pebble Beach, Genesis, and his home turf at Torrey Pines. Now, he’s ready to shake off the rust and get back to business.

On taking the field in this week’s TGL match, Xander Schauffele revealed the struggles he faced in a press conference at the New York Golf Club. Sidelined for a couple of weeks, Schauffele admitted that he missed the thrill of competition and the rush of adrenaline that comes with it. He learned the hard way that you only miss the game when you can’t play it. “I missed being out, and just sitting at home, you sort of appreciate a lot of things when you’re sort of sidelined,” he said.

But now that he’s back. Despite hitting into a screen during the TGL match, he confessed to feeling a little nervous, which is a good sign that he’s getting his competitive juices flowing again. “Even though you’re hitting into a screen, you’re still a bit nervous, just not really being competitive as of late.”

With his sights set on Bay Hill, Schauffele is eager to get back into the swing of things and make up for lost time. “I feel good and looking forward to getting over to Bay Hill,” he said. Well, everyone is indeed very excited to see more of Xander Schauffele, the world’s No. 2 golfer, as he makes his highly anticipated return to competition at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.

Xander Schauffele is so back in action

The 31-year-old San Diego native has been taking his time to recover, prioritizing his long-term health over rushing back into action. This cautious approach is a testament to Schauffele’s commitment to his craft and his desire to ensure that he’s fully prepared to compete at the highest level. “It’s been a slow recovery,” he admitted in an interview. “I just wanted to be 100 percent before I returned and sacrificed a bit on this front end (of the season) to make sure the back end is safe.”

Now, with his injury woes behind him, Schauffele is ready to shake off the rust and get back to competing at the highest level. His fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can pick up where he left off and make another push for glory. The Arnold Palmer Invitational, presented by Mastercard, takes place at Bay Hill Club & Lodge from March 3-9, 2025. Are you excited to see Xander Schauffele back in action? Let us know in the comment section below!