Justin Thomas ended his winless drought at the RBC Heritage, credits Xander Schauffele article explains how Xander Schauffele played a role in helping Justin Thomas regain his putting stroke, leading to his victory at the RBC Heritage. Thomas reached out to Schauffele for advice on putting fundamentals and discovered that he had been trying too hard and too many different things, which led him to lose his “home base” for putting. Through their conversation, Thomas was able to rediscover the keys to his success as a putter during his rise to world No. 1 in 2017-18. Schauffele downplays his role in Thomas’s resurgence, stating that Thomas played great and that he was just there to offer support and answer questions.
Thomas’ win at the RBC Heritage was attributed to his strong iron play and improved putting performance. He ranked fifth in strokes gained: approach and third in strokes gained: putting for the week. Schauffele mentioned that he was the one asking Thomas questions about how he approached putting, highlighting Thomas’ struggles and search for improvement. Thomas, who has two runner-up finishes this season, has shown significant improvement in his putting stats compared to the previous seasons. Schauffele acknowledges that Thomas has always been a strong player and reciprocates the help Thomas once offered him.
Both Thomas and Schauffele will be contenders at the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, with Thomas coming off a win at the venue in 2017. Schauffele is the defending champion and aims to become just the third player in the stroke-play era to win back-to-back PGA Championships. The article discusses the competitive field at Quail Hollow, with other top players like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler likely to challenge Thomas and Schauffele for the title. McIlroy, who has a strong record at Quail Hollow, will be a tough competitor to beat.
Schauffele reflects on his past encounters with McIlroy and hopes to turn the tables on him in future competitions. McIlroy’s recent career grand slam and dominance on the course make him a formidable opponent, but Schauffele is up for the challenge. The article delves into the competitive nature of golf and the camaraderie among players, highlighting how pros like Thomas and Schauffele are willing to support each other and share insights to improve their game. As the PGA Championship approaches, the stage is set for an exciting showdown between some of the top players in the world.
In summary, the article discusses Justin Thomas’s victory at the RBC Heritage, his collaboration with Xander Schauffele to improve his putting, and their upcoming competition at the PGA Championship. It highlights Schauffele’s role in assisting Thomas to rediscover his putting fundamentals and Thomas’s improvement in putting stats. The article also touches on the rivalry between top players like Thomas, Schauffele, and McIlroy, setting the stage for an intense battle at Quail Hollow. As fans eagerly anticipate the tournament, the camaraderie and sportsmanship among players add an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming event.