PERFECT ENEMY - FOLLOWING ANOTHER LOSS MAJOR, XANDER SCHAUFFELE IS FACING A PUZZLING PROBLEM

Mario Russo

Every year without fail, the U.S Open teaches the world of golf something new.

Whether it be the initial uncovering of a player's legacy, the unveiling of a major course, or the tournament’s yearly continuity, the game of golf is never the same when walking away from its second oldest major championship.

As the curtain slides itself shut on the 123rd rendition of the U.S Open, various storylines have begun taking shape in preparation for the season’s final major. Will 2023 be the year Rory McIlroy ends his nine year major championship drought? Will Wyndham Clark be remembered as just another weekend wonder? Can Rickie Fowler build off a major performance that saw him sitting in the final grouping on Sunday?

No matter which way you slice it, each of these burning questions were pushed in the right direction as a result of the players’ performances at L.A Country Club earlier this weekend.

Putting his putrid putting aside, McIlroy finished just one stroke away from potentially redefining his legacy on the major championship scene. Having just a lonesome birdie on his card through the final 18 holes was never going to be enough to earn the Northern Irishman his second U.S Open title, especially with the unfaltering play of Clark throughout the final round.

Despite catching a Sunday snag much worse than McIlroy’s, Fowler showed that an aged dog was indeed capable of learning a series of new tricks after both leading, and being in contention all throughout the tournament.

Although his opening round score of 62 fizzled out quicker than expected, the California native appeared to be back to his old self on the golf course. Time and time again, Fowler found ways to pick up birdies in both quantity and quality, the former setting his name in the U.S Open’s record books with the most birdies (18) through two rounds of play.

Much of what was learned at L.A Country Club’s first ever major championship holds a wave of momentum alongside it. That is of course, the direct outcome of transitioning the unpredictable into expectation following a sustainably peaked performance on the golf course.

Yet with another U.S Open in the books, the very same element that has become increasingly easier to predict at this tournament has rapidly become the furthest thing imaginable, leading many to ask if it will ever happen at all.

At least, that’s what Xander Schauffele is thinking after being on the outside looking in following another U.S Open. Another major championship.

Another chance at redefining his identity as a professional golfer. An opportunity that descended just as quickly as it took off on Thursday, with a historic opening round score of 62 setting the most friendly precedent possible and throwing Schauffele well atop the leaderboards.

Soon thereafter, the receptive greens at the North Course began to play tricks on many of the players - including Schauffele. Scoring ballooned itself almost instantly. A divide in difficulty emerged on both sides of the turn. In traditional U.S Open style, survival of the fittest played its role in tailoring the weekend field.

On a course that demanded day-to-day creativity, adaptation and mental strength, Schauffele was one of the select few unable to follow the terrain’s daily demands. His first round score flipped and spiraled and depleted in rounds two, three and four to leave him ten spots away from where he started on Friday morning.

Richer yes, but forced to once again come to terms with the identity that has haunted him from April to August almost annually.

It isn't getting any easier to deal with either.

In seven appearances at the U.S Open, Schauffele has finished within the top 10 six times. The Nevada native finished tied for tenth at Augusta earlier this year as well. Outside of the majors this season, Schauffele has finished fourth at the RBC Heritage, third at the American Express, and second at the Wells Fargo Championship last month.

If not at a halt already, the patience is running thin for the 29-year old to finally break through. Whether that be on TOUR, or in one of the yearly major tournaments. No matter the course, conditions or even the competition at hand, an opening round score of 62 (the lowest ever at a U.S Open mind you) should always be enough to get you over the hump.

The least a start like that can do for a player is provide a cushion that is more difficult to lose than gain over the field. Yet when his major woes appeared to be on the run, it was the demons left behind that appeared to suck all the life and potential out of Schauffele on Friday morning.

What was recognized as being the closest thing to perfect at a U.S Open simply wasn't enough to fill the deep grave in which Schauffele finds himself buried in.

Throughout his eight year career, ‘good enough’ has been the enemy for Schauffele on the major stage. Similar villains go by the name of ‘good’ as well, and have become something the former Aztec has been forced to rise above in order to secure the elusive first major victory of his career.

This past weekend however saw a new enemy prolong Schauffele’s chances at a major championship. Perfection became his newest nemesis this time around, and like he battled against his former enemies in the past, Schauffele came out on the wrong end once more.

Being good in tournaments never cut it. Being good enough never lasted. The 123rd U.S Open showed that holding onto something perfect isn't even adequate to bust Schauffele out of the slump he’s come far too familiar with over the years.

Is there anything better than perfect?