Pro golfers had their brains scrambled during the 2024 Olympics at Le Golf National, being used to playing for money and themselves, but now playing for their countries with no money at stake. Xander Schauffele was among those affected, having just won two majors before the Olympics and entering the games as a top contender to win another gold medal. However, a poor finish in the final round dropped him out of medal contention entirely, leaving him watching as Scottie Scheffler took the gold.
In a recent media appearance before the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Schauffele expressed disappointment over his Sunday swoon at the Olympics, where he went from thinking he could win gold to ending up as a spectator. Despite his own frustration, he found himself filled with pride and happiness for Scheffler when the American flag was raised in his honor during the emotional medal ceremony. Schauffele admitted to a mix of emotions, feeling upset about his performance but also proud of his teammate’s achievement.
When questioned about whether his pride was influenced by his own gold medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics, Schauffele attributed it to his nationality, stating that seeing the flag raised and the National Anthem played evoked a sense of patriotism that he doesn’t experience often. While focused on playing for himself in the upcoming FedEx Cup Playoffs with a $25 million bonus on the line, Schauffele will reunite with Scheffler and other teammates at the 2024 Presidents Cup in Canada at the end of September.
As the managing producer for GOLF.com, Kevin Cunningham oversees the editing, writing, and publishing of stories on the platform. With a strong background in golf journalism, Cunningham brings a wealth of experience to his role, ensuring that GOLF.com delivers engaging content to its audience through various channels, including newsletters that reach over 1.4 million subscribers monthly. A former intern, Cunningham also collaborates with the tech team on developing new products and innovative ways to enhance the user experience on GOLF.com.
