Xander Schauffele was part of the debut match for TGL on January 7. However, post that, he was not in the field of the Sony Open, and no reason was given. While that did not raise any concern, it was the actions that preceded questions. He unexpectedly withdrew from American Express without providing a reason. The 31-year-old’s decision came after Scottie Scheffler had withdrawn from the La Quinta event.

The world number one was still recovering from a hand injury he sustained on Christmas Day. Schauffele had been present in the PGA Tour season opener at The Sentry, where he finished in a tie for 30th at 17 under. As is often the case in professional golf, speculation quickly swirled about Schauffele potentially moving to LIV Golf after he confirmed his withdrawal.

But turns out, the reason behind his withdrawal is finally out. Xander Schauffele has been dealing with a right rib injury since late 2024. The injury is a soft tissue injury, not a broken bone. He played through the pain at the Sentry, but at the American Express, it became unbearable.

Gabby Herzig reported, “Some news on Xander Schauffele, per his team: He’s recovering from a rib cage injury. It’s on his right side, and it’s an acute intercostal strain/micro tear. Looks like it happened during a pre-season workout toward the end of the year. He was just cleared by doctors to practice again and is eager to get back to playing. @TheAthletic”.

This is not the first time Xander Schauffele has been associated with LIV Golf rumors. Even when he won the 2024 PGA Championship, there were accusations of him taking up the lucrative deal. But they were dismissed too.

Xander Schauffele’s father debunks LIV Golf rumors 

The PGA Tour had already lost big names like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Lee Westwood, and Dustin Johnson to the PIF-backed golf venture. While money was a significant factor in their decisions, it wasn’t the only reason they made the switch. “Xander is not chasing the money. Xander is about legacy. And as for my opinion—just as his father—there was never a chance,” said Stefan, Xander Schauffele’s father after his victory at the Valhalla Golf Club. LIV Golf is still not eligible for OWGR points, and Xander Schauffele currently ranks second in the standings.

If he were to move to the Breakaway League, he would lose the limelight from there. Additionally, playing Makors, and the Ryder Cup is always a huge hurdle for the LIV Golfers, which is something that steers him further back. “What we told LIV in Saudi Arabia, with Xander beside me, was that if there is no path back to the PGA Tour and if there is no chance at world ranking points, we do not have anything to talk about. Even if you throw hundreds of millions of dollars at him. That word still stands,” Schauffele’s father added.

The fans are still waiting for Xander Schauffele’s quick recovery, to see him putting up a tough fight on the course. How long do you think will it take him to get back to playing? Let us know in the comments section below!