For the first time since 2022, Xander Schauffele has missed the cut in a professional event.
Schauffele was just one stroke from the cutline at the Farmers Insurance Open, and missed a 10-footer on the final hole, which would have seen him through to the weekend.
It’s a streak that has lasted 72 events and dates back to the 2022 Masters. Since his last missed cut, Schauffele has won two major championships and established himself as one of the elite players in the game.
This streak obviously demonstrates remarkable consistency, but while it began with him contending for victories and comfortably making the weekend, Schauffele has been scraping by since the start of 2025. He had just three top tens last year and didn’t contend for major victories.
Missing the cut is a much-needed reset for Schauffele, who can now play with greater freedom.
Why missing the cut is the best thing for Xander Schauffele’s career
Playing to make the cut and playing to win are two entirely different mindsets and totally separate approaches to the game.
Just ask JJ Spaun, who explained how his mentality shifted in 2025 when he was trying to contend rather than just make the weekend.
Speaking before the Farmers Insurance Open, Spaun said, “In the past, I just was trying to make cuts. You know, trying to not play myself out of the weekend, Thursday and Friday. Now I think I turned that corner.
“In 2025 halfway through where I had to play really well to keep my fully exempt card, so just making cuts wasn’t going to do it. So I had to just say I’m going for broke, I have nothing to lose. Although I had something to lose, I had to use that mindset to kind of keep the aggression there and play to the ability that I knew I could play at.”
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Xander Schauffele missed his first cut in 72 starts at the Farmers Insurance Open 😔
This is exactly the approach Schauffele needs to adopt going forward. Holding an incredible streak like that comes with a certain weight, a pressure to make the cut. Whether conscious or subconscious, there was a part of Schauffele that was just trying to make the weekend.
Now the pressure is gone, and he can go back to playing aggressively without the fear of playing himself into a short week. Who cares? There’s no streak to maintain, so is it better to risk missing the cut for a chance to win? For a man of his pedigree, of course it is.
This is a much-needed chance at a reset for Schauffele, and one that could pay dividends for him in the rest of the year.
Xander Schauffele admitted it was ‘nice’ to miss the cut
Even Schauffele seemed almost relieved to have this off his back. He was asked how disappointed he was not to make the weekend for the first time since 2022, and he said it was nice.
This is a home event for him, so Schauffele said he’s excited to spend some time with his family over the weekend.
He said to reporters, “Obviously, I don’t like missing cuts, I think my record proves that, but it’s actually kind of nice, to be honest, if I was going to pick a spot. I get to hang out with my family.
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“If I miss the cut in Charlotte or somewhere, I would just be sitting in a hotel room by myself. I have the comfort of my family here to hang out. You know what, all said and done, it’s probably the best place to miss it.”
He’s had a few months off to take care of his newborn son over the winter, so he’s not in need of a rest from golf, but now is the perfect time to adjust his mindset on the course and get back to winning consistently.
Maybe now Schauffele’s poor form can be put behind him, and he’ll once again contend with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler as one of the three best players in the sport.
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