Justin Thomas, a seasoned golfer and two-time major winner, recently described a peculiar situation at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational as “strange”, where 21-year-old rookie Nick Dunlap was forced to play his entire round solo due to the final field size being an odd number, 69. Thomas found it unusual that Dunlap had to navigate the course without a playing partner, relying solely on his caddie and a few volunteers to keep track of his score. This unexpected twist sparked Thomas’s comment, highlighting the unusual nature of Dunlap’s solo round.

A similar situation has occurred for golf’s Drama Slayer as well. Schauffele, like Dunlap, has found himself playing a round alone, albeit in different circumstances. Dunlap played his entire round solo due to the odd field size, while Schauffele’s solo round will take place during the final round, the reason being that only 51 pros remained after the cut. Despite the unusual circumstances, both golfers adapted to the situation differently, with Dunlap even expressing his comfort with playing alone.

After being sent out alone on Thursday due to Tony Faniau’s withdrawal, Dunlap initially felt a bit weird. However, he soon warmed up to the idea and even claimed that it was “a lot better” to play as a single. “Personally, I like it,” he said, “as weird as that is to say.” Dunlap’s solo round worked out pretty well, with him finishing on par at Bay Bay Hill. Justin Thomas, who had some interesting comments about Dunlap’s PGA Tour debut, seemed to agree with the Tour’s decision to send Dunlap out alone. With no alternate list available, the solo round became a blessing in disguise for the young golfer.

Schauffele, on the other hand, is taking things one step at a time, literally.

Xander Schauffele’s amazing return after nagging injury

After a two-month injury layoff, Xander Schauffele is back on the PGA Tour, competing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Despite a slow start, Schauffele is determined to put his injury struggles behind him. He’s already planning his next moves, including appearances at the PLAYERS Championship and possibly the Valspar Championship. With his impressive track record, including wins at the PGA Championship and The Open, fans are eagerly watching his return.

Schauffele’s performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational has been a true test of his skills and determination. After a strong start, he found himself in unfamiliar territory – outside the cutline. A double bogey on the 11th hole, which he described as getting “hit in the face with a frying pan,” and another double bogey on the 12th hole, which he called a “disaster,” had him reeling. However, Schauffele refused to give up, rallying with birdies at 13, 14, and 16 to put himself on the right side of the cutline. His impressive comeback ensured that he extended his cut streak to 58 events, the longest streak since Tiger Woods’s incredible 142-event streak from 1998-2005.

As the final round comes to a close, Schauffele’s determination and resilience are a testament to his character, and he will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the tournaments to come. In the final round, Schauffele made a thrilling 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 6th hole, a highlight of his tournament. He managed to achieve a tie for 40th place. While the title may be out of his hands for now, Schauffele is focused on fighting for a better position in the coming events. As he said, “I try really hard to not quit,” and that mindset will serve him well in his pursuit of success on the PGA Tour.