Hello, fellow Duffer! Sarah Chen here, your Golf Instruction Editor, and I’m excited to dive into some fantastic lessons we can all learn from Xander Schauffele’s recent Baycurrent Classic victory. After a challenging season marked by injury and struggle, Xander found his winning form again, proving that persistence and focusing on fundamentals can turn things around for anyone.
As golf instructors, we often see players get caught up in trying to hit the ball further or make every putt. But what Xander’s comeback truly highlights is the power of consistency, control, and a solid mental game. Whether you’re a high-level amateur or a weekend warrior, the principles that propelled him to victory are universal and will absolutely help you drop strokes.
Finding the Fairway: Precision Over Power
One of the most striking transformations in Xander’s game at Yokohama Country Club was his driving accuracy. He went from hitting just 55 percent of his fairways earlier in the season to a remarkable 80 percent at the Baycurrent Classic. That translated to 48 out of 60 fairways! This isn’t about crushing the ball; it’s about putting it in play consistently.
“Schauffele averaged 298.4 yards off the tee at the Baycurrent Classic. Solid, but not spectacular (he ranked 23rd in the field). His 80 percent accuracy rate, though? That ranked T7. You don’t need to bomb it past your playing partners to score well.”
In my teaching experience, many golfers mistakenly believe that more distance automatically means lower scores. While distance is an asset, control is often the unsung hero. A ball in the fairway, even if it’s 20 yards shorter than your best, gives you a clear shot at the green. A ball in the trees or deep rough gives you a scramble, at best.
Try This: The 80% Power Drill
To prioritize control, let’s practice swinging with intention, not brute force. On the range, tee up five drives. For each drive, consciously aim for 80% of your maximum power. Focus on a smooth takeaway, a controlled transition, and a balanced finish. Don’t worry about how far the ball goes initially. Instead, note how many balls land within a designated “fairway” area. You’ll likely find your dispersion tightens significantly, and you might even be surprised by how much distance you retain.
Commit to Your Target
Indecision is the enemy of a good golf swing. When you stand over the ball second-guessing your line, your body responds with tension and uncertainty. Xander’s ability to hit so many fairways wasn’t accidental; it was a result of clear commitment.
“Before you step up, pick a specific target. Not just “the fairway,” but a precise spot or landmark.”
This is a crucial point I emphasize with all my students – from beginners to professionals. Before you even address the ball, stand behind it and visualize the flight, noting a specific tree, cloud, or a patch of grass in the distance. Then, pick an “intermediate target” – a leaf, a divot, or a discoloration on the grass a few feet in front of your ball – that aligns perfectly with your chosen line. As you stand over the ball, your only thought should be to start the ball over that intermediate target. This simple routine frees your mind from doubt and allows your body to make a more natural, powerful swing.
Mastering the Putter: Distance and Consistency
Xander’s putting woes were well-documented, ranking 130th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting before his win. But at Yokohama, he gained nearly a stroke on the field, showing how quickly putting fortunes can change with a renewed focus on fundamentals. This isn’t about making every single putt; it’s about minimizing mistakes and building confidence.
The Key to Eliminating Three-Putts: Distance Control
While his putts per green in regulation (1.67) were good but not elite, Xander’s overall strokes gained tells a more important story: he left himself with easy second putts. As the article states, “Excellent distance control left him with manageable second putts.” Three-putts are score killers, and they are almost always a result of poor distance control, not bad aim on the short ones.
Here’s a Drill: The 3-Foot Circle Challenge
Find a practice green and place tees in a circle three feet around a hole. Now, hit putts from 20, 30, and 40 feet away. Your goal isn’t to make the putt, but to consistently leave it within that three-foot circle. Do this for at least 15-20 minutes every time you practice. When you can reliably leave your long putts within that circle, you’ll virtually eliminate embarrassing three-putts, and your scores will drop dramatically.
Build a Repeatable Stroke
“Schauffele gained strokes with his putter after months of struggling because he rediscovered the fundamentals of his stroke. For you, this means developing a consistent routine and tempo.”
A consistent putting stroke is a simple one. I always tell my students: think “shoulders rock, hands quiet.” This means your putting motion should be driven primarily by your shoulders, creating a pendulum-like swing with the putter head. Your wrists and hands should remain stable throughout the stroke. Furthermore, maintaining a consistent tempo is vital. Practice with a metronome app on your phone, or simply count “one” on the backswing and “two” on the through-swing to regulate your pace. The length of your backswing then dictates the distance the ball travels, not how fast you swing your arms.
The Unseen Advantage: Mental Resilience
Perhaps the most powerful lesson from Xander’s victory isn’t about technique at all. It’s about perseverance. After an injury, a frustrating season, and even missing the Tour Championship, many golfers would let doubt consume them. But Xander didn’t. He kept working, kept trusting his process, and earned a hard-fought victory.
““I’m sure when I look back on 2025 at the end of my career, I’ll smile and think it was a great year,” Schauffele said. That perspective, focusing on the journey rather than just the results, is worth adopting.”
This perspective is gold. Golf is a game of highs and lows. Instead of getting fixated on every bad shot or a disappointing round, embrace the journey, celebrate the small improvements, and trust that your hard work will pay off. Even for the pros, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
So, take these lessons from Xander Schauffele. Focus on control with your driver, master distance control with your putter, build a repeatable stroke, and most importantly, stay persistent and positive. I know you can improve your game, and I’m here to cheer you on every step of the way!
