This is the week of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, but Xander Schauffele will tee off at the iconic Old Course on Thursday with some history going for him as well with two back-to-back wins at the Travelers Championship and Genesis Scottish Open.
Surely, the 28-year-old starts among the favourites to lift the Claret Jug, but Schauffele refuses to look too far ahead. The plan is to cut out the media hype and focus on the task on hand.
Related: Two wins in two starts, Xander Schauffele issues warning
Excerpts from an interview:
How do you feel going into St Andrews?
Xander: To be honest, a bit rushed. I’ve never played St Andrews. I’ve never played the Old Course, so a lot of homework to do… I’m not even thinking about Sunday quite yet. I need to prepare.
A lot of people mentioned outside that it’s a bad omen
Xander: Yeah, I don’t.
That you can do it.
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Xander: I try not to listen to the media too much. I always enjoy talking to you guys but you guys are always the ones telling me this happened and that happened. Earlier this week a few reporters did that. I’m not really sure what the historical deal is in terms of winning before a Major but I’m not complaining whatsoever.
How important is that to know that you can grind out a win even if you’re not playing your best golf ahead of The Open?
Xander: It’s what links golf promotes, getting the ball in the hole. I was telling myself that, it doesn’t really have to be pretty. It wasn’t very pretty, unfortunately, but I got the ball in the hole and one better than everyone else.
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How lovely going into The Open as the most recent winner and one to watch?
Xander: Yeah, I’m not sure if that’s like a curse or something. I’m going to ignore all the media — as possible. There’s a few guys like to tell me about history and all, but I’m obviously in good form and going to try to carry that into next week.
You spoke about the fact that you have a lack of preparation and knowledge of St Andrews but when you get on a run like this, you won the last three times you’ve been on a golf course basically, do you feel like you can overcome anything?
Xander: Yeah. Good golf is good golf. I it’s like you said capitalising when you’re playing well is the most important thing. Usually when I have more information, I feel more confidential and at times when you don’t know as. Sometimes you can use that to your an as well. We’ll see how much preparation we can do next week in addition in the next three days.
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What is the thing that you are really looking forward to at St Andrews?
Xander: Just being on property. You know, I’m not really one to get too excited to go to a new golf course but I’m pretty excited to go to that one and I just want to — it’s going to be nice to just walk on property. It would have been cool to go with no fans and then to see it with fans, I missed out on that, which I’m totally fine with. But I’m just excited to walk the course.
