Xander Schauffele will defend his Open Championship crown at Royal Portrush this week.
Schauffele won the Claret Jug last year after beating Justin Rose and Billy Horschel by two strokes at Royal Troon.
Unfortunately, Schauffele missed eight weeks with an intercostal strain at the beginning of the season and has been trying to return to the same form ever since.
Smylie Kaufman has now shared what his concerns are about the Open champion’s ability to retain his title.
Smylie Kaufman has some concerns about Xander Schauffele at The Open
Schauffele struggled immediately after his return from injury, but his results since the Players Championship in March have been solid.
He finished T8 at The Masters, T12 at the US Open, and T8 again at last week’s Scottish Open. The issue is that he has not been in contention at any event.
Former PGA Tour winner Smylie Kaufman has two potential reasons that could also prevent him from winning The Open again.
“I think his iron game is elite enough, and if the putter wakes up from hibernation, I definitely think he can contend.
“But he hasn’t put himself in contention. He has been on the outside looking in the whole year, so it’s hard for me to say.
“Can he win back-to-back? Sure, he can win this golf tournament. Xander Schauffele is easily capable of doing that. I think he can easily play with patience on this golf course and let it come to him.
“But I am worried about the outlier misses, and just his ability to keep it in front of him. I think that’s going to be such an important test this week.
“He probably needs to be in the top five in putting, and he hasn’t had one of those hot putting weeks in quite some time.”
Xander Schauffele speaks about ‘learning’ how to play links golf courses
Schauffele’s record at The Open Championship suggests that he loves playing links golf courses.
Besides his victory last year, he has a runner-up finish (2018) and three top 20s (2017, 2022, and 2023).
However, Schauffele admitted he does not feel like he has mastered links golf in an interesting answer about what you need to be successful on the surface.
“I don’t think it was easy,” he said. “I think I’m still learning a lot. I think even from last week to this week, we actually have divots flying this week. Last week was ball mark-less and divot-less.
“Just learning how the ball reacts on certain grass, if it’s going to jump or not, when you’re sitting in like a fescue bush or weed, how that’s going to come out, how much it’s going to grab your club. There are so many things you still learn on the way.
“More of it’s just the mentality. I think, when you say links golf, it comes with weather, and when you play in bad weather, you have to have a good attitude.”
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