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In 2016, golf made its return to the Olympic Games after a more than 100-year hiatus. Great Britain’s Justin Rose claimed gold in Rio. But Americans have since stood atop the podium at the last two Olympic events, with Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler winning gold in Tokyo and Paris respectively.
While you think that would be a point of pride for the Americans, Schauffele explained Tuesday that he had mixed emotions when Scheffler won gold at Le Golf National.
“I take pride in finishing strong, and to do that was — I was pretty bummed out. I went from thinking I could have a good look at gold to maybe silver, then to bronze, and then to, wow, I’m just spectating now,” Schauffele said of finishing in a tie for ninth after beginning the final round in a tie for the lead with Jon Rahm.
Rahm also faltered, finishing in a tie for fifth.
“That’s sort of what happened the last seven, eight holes of that tournament. So that was a bit of a bummer, especially with how the fans were out there.”
So, what did Schauffele think about Scheffler winning? Well, it’s a bit hard to explain.
“It’s weird; I’m not going to lie. It’s the weirdest feeling. I was watching from the sort of family section, the podium, and when Scottie was up there and our flag was raised and he started crying up there, I was butt-hurt about my own round, and then I was sitting there like, yeah, this is pretty cool,” Schauffele explained.
Fittingly, Scheffler and Schauffele are currently the Nos. 1 and 2 ranked golfers in the world respectively. Scheffler won The Masters, Olympic gold, and several other marquee events. While Schauffele won the PGA Championship and Open Championship, the first two major championships of his career.
The two will tee it up again this weekend at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first leg of the PGA Tour playoffs.
“I’d like to think I’m not — I can be rational most times, but I felt so emotional in that state to where I was butt-hurt about how I played and then sorta proud and happy that Scottie won it,” Schauffele said of their rivalry and friendship. “It’s such a — it’s hard to explain, the swing of it. Then out here this week playing with him these next two days and we’re all just trying to beat our heads in. It’s a funny feeling.”