Xander Schauffele has struggled to replicate the form he showed in 2024 over the past 18 months, but Phil Mickelson has insisted that his fellow American is looking very sharp with major season just around the corner.
Mickelson and Schauffele always play plenty of golf with one another during their time away from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
They are both San Diego natives, although Schauffele recently moved to Jupiter in Florida.
How concerned are you about Xander Schauffele?
Xander Schauffele missed his first cut in 72 starts at the Farmers Insurance Open 😔
Mickelson has backed Schauffele for greatness since the 2024 Open champion first came out onto the PGA Tour.
And the LIV Golf star has been proven right with his steadfast belief in Schauffele.
The 32-year-old now has 10 PGA Tour wins to his name over the past nine years, including two major championships.
And even greater success lies ahead for Xander, according to Mickelson.
Phil Mickelson makes Xander Schauffele prediction
Schauffele changed his driver head and shaft during the off-season, and he’s been fairly slow out of the blocks in 2026 so far.
The American had made 72 consecutive cuts before he missed the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open last month.
However, things have gradually improved for him since then, with T-41 and T-19 finishes at the WM Phoenix Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am respectively.
And Mickelson suggested Schauffele could return to his very best in 2026, when speaking on Grant Horvat’s YouTube channel.
“Xander is playing some great golf,“ Mickelson claimed.
Horvat then asked the six-time major winner if he has been playing regularly with the 2024 Open champion throughout the off-season.
“Yes, unsuccessfully. He’s ready. Like, he’s ready to start the season. His game is sharp now.“
Mickelson then shared why he is so desperate to get Schauffele on his YouTube channel for a match.
“The reason I really want him to do an episode or do a match is he’s so funny,“ the 55-year-old said.
“Like, people wouldn’t know that about him, and I think that his personality would come out. He is understated funny.“
So, it seems like a return to form for Schauffele could well be on the cards in 2026.
Xander Schauffele will be keen to challenge for major titles again
Schauffele is one of the most talented golfers on the PGA Tour; that much is obvious.
However, it’s fair to say that he simply hasn’t been the same player since after suffering a small cartilage tear and an intercostal strain right at the start of 2025.
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That kept him out of action for around two months, and he struggled to contend throughout the remainder of the regular season, let alone win.
That said, the two-time major champion did return to the winner’s circle in October out in Japan at the Baycurrent Classic.
Schauffele will be desperate to contend in the major championships again this season, and judging by Mickelson’s comments, he may well do just that.
He has made incremental improvements each week on the PGA Tour this season. Could he go one further and win the Genesis Invitational this week, though? Only time will tell.
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