Xander Schauffele has crept back into contention at the BMW Championship but he’s admitting he’s not having the best time out on course.
Castle Pines is sat high up above sea level and the change in altitude has been a bit talking point among the players this week.
Indeed, Scottie Scheffler admitted that his stock 8-iron would go around 15 yards further and we have seen examples of big hits this week, with Ludvig Aberg cracking a 3-wood over 400 yards on day one.
Still, while it makes for entertaining viewing for the fans, Xander Schauffele has suggested that for him and certain players, the altitude is really causing an issue.
Xander Schauffele admits he’s finding the altitude tough at Castle Pines
Speaking to the media after his third round of five-under put him back in the mix to win, Schauffele was questioned on if he was getting frustrated.
And just like Scottie Scheffler losing his head the day before, Schauffele admitted he has found it tough.
“Yeah, it is frustrating playing at altitude,” Schauffele quipped.
“I remember it being in Vegas when I first moved there — it’s only five percent where I was playing up in Summerlin. It was about 3,000 feet was the highest point. I talked to Collin Morikawa and Kurt out there and I would ask them all the time how to handle altitude because I would hit a flush wedge shot and it would be like 45 feet over the flag or short, and it would be so frustrating.
“A little bit of that feeling this week, as well, and I know I’m not the only one where guys are flagging shots and it’s plugging in a bunker over a green or coming up well short. It’s a little bit of that altitude deal.”
Schauffele has been in fine form once again of late and he’s put himself in contention to win again.
Sitting just five off the leaders, there is every chance the world number two produces again when it matters and reels in those at the top.
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