In close circles, they fondly call him ‘The Ogre.’ Stefan Schauffele is muscular, aggressive, and can tell a jolly good story, as you would expect a once-Olympics aspirant to be. He also happens to be Xander Schauffele’s former swing coach and his greatest defender. Sometimes, though, while batting for his son, the elder Schauffele unwittingly sparked a storm, like these three times for instance.

Stefan Schauffele slammed the PGA of America’s ‘shameful’ act

Stefan Schauffele said his son’s Ryder Cup spot was in jeopardy because of miscommunication. He told the Times that Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay asked for a player participation and benefit agreement, which they received in July. But it required three amendments.

Per Stefan, they had no way to reach the legal counsel of the PGA of America to address their concern. It got to a point where the PGA of America official told them to either sign it or Schauffele would be out of the team.

Only a few days before the Ryder Cup began, the PGA of America CEO, got wind of the fact. He promptly got them in touch with the legal counsel, and it was solved in a matter of a few hours.

“Then I received a message that Xander was back on the team. That you can quote. That’s the extent of this and I think it’s shameful,” he told the Times UK. However, Xander Schauffele was not ‘super fired-up’ about his dad speaking to the media.

Xander Schauffele is all about legacy, not money: Stefan

Xander Schauffele has been linked with LIV Golf several times. As recently as last May. Stefan had enough of it. Asked about the matter, he gave an emphatic response: “No chance.” Elaborating further, the elder Schauffele revealed that PIF officials did reach out to them.

However, as long as there were no world ranking points on offers and no direct path back to the PGA Tour, they were unconcerned with the amount of money on the table. Stefan Schauffele added, “Xander is not chasing the money. Xander is about legacy. And as my opinion — just as his father — there was never a chance.”

Xander Schauffele will be the next career grand-slammer, per his dad

Jordan Spieth. Justin Thomas. Rory McIlroy. Scottie Scheffler. Jon Rahm. Brooks Koepka. In the last five years, these names—in no particular order—have dominated the Grand Slam debate. In the five-year stretch between 2018 to 2023, Xander Schauffele had eight top-ten finishes in 20 majors. There was doubt about his ability to convert the numerous top-fives into a podium finish.

That was all before the 2024 PGA Championship. Now with two majors under his belt, no one doubts his ability on the grand stage. And, Stefan Schauffele thinks this is just the beginning. “It’s up to you guys to take a look at the statistics and see who has the greatest potential of being the next career grand-slammer because I think he’s the one who has the game.”

Both Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy are one major away. But Spieth hasn’t really contended in a major for a long time. McIlroy, on the other hand, had come close but faltered. Stefan thinks time is ripe for his son.

At Le Golf National, Stefan, now relieved of his coaching duties, can enjoy his son’s performance as a dad and spectator. Xander Schauffele fired a round of 65 to take early charge in his Gold Medal defense. If the Californian takes the medal again, it will only bolster his father’s claim.