Friends Helping Friends

Xander Schauffele wants to set the record straight – he’s not responsible for Justin Thomas’ triumphant return to the winner’s circle.

After Thomas ended his 1,064-day victory drought at the RBC Heritage, he credited a putting conversation with Schauffele as a key factor in helping him regain his form on the greens. But Schauffele modestly deflected that praise during Monday’s PGA Championship conference call.

“J.T., he played great,” Schauffele said. “I don’t think I really have anything to do with him winning. He maybe gave me too much credit.”

The Jupiter Connection

The practice session that Thomas referenced actually began with Schauffele tagging along during a practice day in Jupiter, Florida, where both players live. What started as Thomas asking questions quickly evolved into something much different.

“It ended up with me being the one asking him all the questions, sort of how he thinks about putting, what he’s done in the past,” Schauffele explained.

The conversation helped Thomas realize he had been overcomplicating things. “I think more than anything, it was just sort of he was searching and maybe trying too hard, and he’s done so many good things in the past,” Schauffele said. “Felt like all the answers were right in front of him. J.T. is so good that he figured it out pretty quickly.”

Roles Reversed

Schauffele pointed out that their mentor-student relationship used to flow in the opposite direction when he was the one seeking advice.

“He’s always been so good. He’s been a former No. 1 in the world. I’m the one that was there before asking him what he was doing, how he prepared, how he competed,” Schauffele said.

The results speak for themselves. Thomas now ranks 24th in putting this season, a massive improvement from 2024 and 2023 when he ranked 174th and 135th, respectively. That improved putting played a crucial role at Harbour Town, where Thomas ranked third in strokes gained: putting for the week and drained a 21-foot birdie putt to win the playoff.

Looking Ahead to Quail Hollow

Both golfers will be among the favorites at next month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, a venue with special significance for each of them. Thomas won his first PGA Championship there in 2017, while Schauffele has twice finished runner-up at the Wells Fargo Championship held at the same course.

“Writers call it horses for courses,” Schauffele said. “You just have to get on a property and you have to feel good, and the vibe has to be good, and I’ve sort of had that feeling when I’m on property there.”

A victory would make Schauffele just the third player in the stroke-play era to win back-to-back PGA Championships, joining Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka. Standing in his way will be a confident Thomas, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, and recent career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy.

Speaking of McIlroy, who dominated the final round of last year’s Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow to beat Schauffele, the defending PGA champion is hoping for another chance to compete against the Northern Irishman.

“The times I think about competing against him, I feel like he’s gotten the best of me almost every time,” Schauffele admitted. “Any chance you can get to sort of take him down or have a go, it’s always a good time.”