When you think of the top golfers on the PGA Tour, two of the standout names who come to mind immediately are the American duo of Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele.
Spieth is a three-time major winner and widely regarded as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, while Xander Schauffele added his name to the list of major winners last year by winning The Open and the PGA Championship.
However, with 2025 now underway, both Spieth and Schauffele are having mixed fortunes and both would probably admit they’re nowhere near where they want to be.
Indeed, Schauffele has yet to play since the season opening Sentry, while Spieth missed the cut at the Genesis despite showing good form at the WM Phoenix Open.
And according to golf analyst Johnson Wagner, there’s a big worry when it comes to one of the pair.
Why Johnson Wagner is worried about Xander Schauffele
With Jordan Spieth actually playing well at TPC Scottsdale, there is more cause for optimism in general for him.
However, when it comes to Schauffele, Johnson Wagner admits he has a striking worry over the world number two.
“My level of concern is minimal [for Spieth]. Look at what he did in Phoenix last week. I just think this golf course is a tough fit for him plus playing out of that heavy rough, probably difficult to trust that wrist,” Wagner said on the latest episode of Rex and Lav’s Golf Channel podcast.
“But, Xander, I mean a rib injury coming off two major championships, playing at Kapalua, missing his home town event at Torrey twice, missing Pebble.
“He is going to show up at Bay Hill but what is he going to look like? When you have a rib injury you are not pounding balls, you are not getting better. Maybe he is chipping and putting so that should be tidy, but I am concerned about Xander Schauffele.”
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When Xander Schauffele plans to return from injury
The world’s second best player being missing from events is a blow to the PGA Tour luckily, it does seem Schauffele is on his way back soon.
He is struggling with a rib injury and getting reps in but Schauffele has said he’s planning to play the Arnold Palmer in three weeks after becoming frustrated at home.
“Taking the Genesis off gives me three weeks leading into Bay Hill,” Schauffele told Golfweek.
“I want to get as many reps under the belt before the Masters. It would be nice to get the competitive blood flowing a few times before going into a really big event and also have the Players coming up.
“I need a little more TLC, especially at 31 versus 25 and make sure everything is oiled correctly.”
| Scottie Scheffler | Xander Schauffele | Rory McIlroy | |
| Events played | 19 | 22 | 19 |
| Wins | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Runner-ups | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Top 10s | 16 | 15 | 7 |
| Top 25s | 17 | 20 | 15 |
| FedEx Cup finish | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Prize money won | $29.2m | $18.4m | $10.9m |
With Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy both looking in decent enough form, having Schauffele back in the mix will only add to the excitement of some of the bigger events.
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