MIAMI: Xander Schauffele’s first major breakthrough came with major perks. By winning the PGA Championship on Sunday with a birdie at the 72nd hole, Schauffele is exempt into the PGA Championship for the rest of his career, and he’s guaranteed a spot at the other three majors for the next five years.
Of course, that type of job security has fed rumors that Schauffele could defect from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf and pick up a huge paycheck while he’s guaranteed major access, which is generally harder for LIV players without world ranking points.
But Schauffele’s colorful father, Stefan Schauffele, told Golf.com that such a defection is not in the cards. “No chance,” Stefan Schauffele said in an interview published Monday. “Xander is not chasing the money. Xander is about legacy. And as my opinion -- just as his father --there was never a chance.”
The elder Schauffele, who has also served as Xander’s swing coach throughout his life, explained that the family listened to LIV’s offers in the past. “What we told LIV in Saudi Arabia, with Xander beside me, was that if there is no path back to the PGA Tour and if there is no chance at World Ranking points we do not have anything to talk about,” Stefan Schauffele said. “Even if you throw hundreds of millions of dollars at him. That word still stands.