American Xander Schauffele signed the card of the day on the last lap of the American Express. A 62 that the little Californian owes in particular to a resounding feat at 5, the first par 5 of the Stadium Course on Sunday at La Quinta.
Xander Schauffele, albatros
Rather discreet on his first 4 holes, Xander Schauffele did not hesitate when he showed up for his second shot just over 200 meters from hole number 5. A par 5 on which the organizers had nevertheless placed the flag at the edge of the penalty area.
In search of an “electroshock” golf shot that could put an end to a series started the day before of 8 holes crossed in +2, Schauffele wanted to force fate and he took it well! The iron shot of the 6th player in the world over the pond flirted with the Berliner but landed on the green before heading quietly towards the flag and disappearing into the hole for an incredible albatross!
Reinvigorated by this twist of fate, the Olympic champion finished his tournament with a bang with eight birdies on his last ten holes. His card of 62 allowed him to climb to 3rd place in the tournament 2 shots behind Jon Rahm.
Alexander Victor Schauffele (born October 25, 1993) is an American golfer, active primarily on the PGA and European Tour. He is the winner of the Olympic gold medal in the individual at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Born in San Diego to a Franco-German father and a Taiwanese mother, he comes from a family of athletes and soccer players: his father Stefan was an aspiring decathlete, while his great-grandparents Richard (also discus thrower, weightlifter and multi-titled javelin thrower) and Johann Hoffmann were decent soccer players success in Europe.
He attended California State University, Long Beach and then San Diego State University, where he successfully practiced the sport of golf. In 2014 he beat compatriot Hossler by winning the California amateur championship at the prestigious La Costa Resort & Spa, before being defeated by the same in the final contest of the Western Amateur a few months later.
His amateur results earned him a place in the Top 10 of the world amateur ranking before he turned pro in 2015. In 2021 he participates in Tokyo 2020 and wins the first American gold medal since the readmission of golf to the Olympics. He wins the Olympic tournament with 266 strokes in 4 days, 18 under par.
