Xander Schauffele shares unexpected Tiger Woods gesture after sealing PGA Championship win
Xander Schauffele’s victory at the PGA Championship not only earned him a major title but also a prized congratulatory message from none other than golf legend Tiger Woods.
Triumphing at Valhalla, Schauffele led from start to finish, narrowly defeating Bryson DeChambeau by a single stroke and sinking a six-foot birdie on the final hole that will forever be etched in his memory.
After a string of near misses, the Ryder Cup hero has finally shaken off the ‘nearly man’ tag, showcasing his prodigious talent to secure his place among golf’s greats.
With this major hurdle overcome, Schauffele is now tipped to further expand his trophy cabinet in the years ahead.
Yet, it’s the personal nod from Woods that truly underscores the magnitude of his achievement.
“He texted me, you know, and I think he is right-he’s been through it all himself,” an elated Schauffele recounted to SubPar.
“But he texted me something along the lines of, ‘You know, all those times you were close, I think that hardened you for this moment. And I’m proud of you. It’s incredible. I couldn’t be more proud of you.’ That was an awesome text I got from TW.”
Despite previously being burdened with the label of golf’s nearly man due to his 11 top-10 finishes without clinching a major, Schauffele’s composure on the climactic 72nd hole putt was a testament to his mental fortitude and skill under pressure.
“So much is racing through your head ‘If you make this you win, if you make this you change your life, this is what you’ve wanted your whole life’. I was thinking so much – while going through my routine and the longer I take, the more stuff I think.”
