Stefan Schauffele: My son Xander will complete career slam before Rory McIlroy

Stefan Schauffele calls himself ‘The Ogre’ and he is plainly not shy in coming forward. So there should not be too much surprise that he declared in the wake of his son’s Open Championship success that Xander will be the first of this generation to complete the career grand slam.

There can be no doubt that after adding the Claret Jug to the Wanamaker Trophy he collected at the USPGA in May, the Californian has put himself squarely in the fight to emulate the five immortals – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.

Yet even though there are two peers – Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth – with three of the four already in their lockers, Schauffele Snr believes his son is at the head of the pack.

“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,” he said. “Yes, I’m being subjective but I think, objectively, you will arrive at the same conclusion.”

Of course, it is natural to be seduced by the golfer who has just won, especially when they have done so in the cool and clinical style of Schauffele, as he denied English veteran Justin Rose his dream by a comfortable two shots. When Scottie Scheffler lifted his second Masters title in three years, he looked odds-on to win at least one more in 2024.

And Bryson DeChambeau’s repeat triumph at the US Open last month, on the back of his runner-up at the USPGA, identified the ‘Mad Scientist’ as a performer rapidly assembling all the compounds to produce an elixir capable of turning each and every test into a positive. He still could.

Go further back and Jon Rahm’s Green Jacket in 2023 on the back of America’s national championship of 2021 had the experts extolling the Spaniard’s slam virtues. Rahm’s tie for seventh at Royal Troon, after finishing runner-up at Hoylake, highlighted his suitability to the links. Furthermore, Rahm had won plenty of PGA Tour titles before switching to LIV at the start of 2024, so obviously has all the attributes at the USPGA.

The point is that while Schauffele’s candidature might seem irresistible following his Ayrshire/Kentucky dominance – not to mention his eighth and a seventh at the year’s other two majors – but by next April, after eight months of reflection, the perceived might of the challengers will have converged.

It is eminently possible that things change very quickly. McIlroy could end the battle stone dead, by becoming the sixth member of the elusive club at Augusta and if he fails – for the 11th time – Spieth will have the opportunity – for a seventh time – at Quail Hollow.

Who knows, Schauffele could be going for his final leg at the US Open at Oakmont and Rahm might be starting what he would hope was the last lap at Royal Portrush, as may Scheffler. And do not forget Brooks Koepka, the five-time major winner, who needs the Masters and Open. He is only 34.

With Phil Mickelson set to have his chance at the US Open – albeit at the age of 54 and with his game understandably receding – the fans will surely soon be able to eye history whenever a ‘Big Four’ event comes around.

The race to join the legends will affix another aspect to the elite male game and as the negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund – the LIV bankrollers – rumble on with no resolution in sight, this dash for eternity is perhaps just what the sport needs.

Credit to the Schauffele camp as they are not hiding from the task. Anything but. Indeed, the caddie sounds almost as bullish as the father. “After Xander won the [US]PGA, I looked at him and said, ‘Let’s go for the grand slam’,” Austin Kaiser said. “Let’s do it. Why not? He’s right there. He’s played well in Augusta. He’s played well in the US Open. I definitely could see him achieving that. No problem.”

Schauffele is more circumspect but as the aspirant who actually hits the shot, he probably has to be. “Before I had any majors it’s something I’ve always wanted,” he said, when asked about the grand slam. “I’m one step closer and still have a long way to go. But if you don’t see yourself doing it, you’re never going to do it.”

The temperament is there and maybe it is not possible to say the same about his rivals when the expectancy is at its highest. “Look, I may not be the guy running around fist pumping, but that’s just who I am,” Schauffele said.

“I kind of know how I need to be to perform at a high level. The same way I don’t get really angry, I also don’t let myself get too over the moon because to me it’s the same thing. I’ve kind of embraced this sort of So-Cal [Southern California], laid-back kid, but there’s obviously a fire burning deep within, or you wouldn’t have a couple majors sitting by your side.”

To think, just three months ago, Schauffele was regarded as the nearly man – with 12 top 10s in the majors and so many close calls – and now everyone believes he will be the yearly man. Scheffler might have his edge in the rankings and with six victories to his name in 2024 the latter is likely ahead in the Player of the Year stakes. But if Schauffele was to successfully defend his Olympic title next week that would be an almighty call.

After so long being classed as a terrible closer, Schauffele has learned how to win and suddenly the stats that once damned him have flipped in his favour. He is the first male golfer in more than 20 years to finish in the top 20 in 11 straight majors. Stefan is adamant there is no stopping his lad, who he coached and mentored from his own experience as a German track and field specialist.

“To me, clearly, this had to happen – it just had to,” he added. “But you guys [in the media] are very good at augmenting the pressure and you end with a little bit of a tightening in the rear end. So yes, maybe he is going to miss a shot or two. But now, the cork is out.”

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