Playing alongside best bud Cantlay in the final group, the X-Man wins Travelers by 2
Xander Schauffele, Ryder Cup & Presidents Cup stalwart, near winner in more majors than anyone not named Zalatoris, the Top 10 money-making PGA TOUR star hadn’t won an individual tourney on the Tour since Jan ’19 until yesterday.
Let that soak in.
Crazy. For people who don’t track professional golf as closely as we do, you would’ve thought in that span he had won at least a couple of big trophies. But no. Only a measly gold medal in the Olympics (I jest — USA! USA!).
Back on top he is! And has Tour rookie Sahith Theegala to thank for his accomplishment (partly). Sahith’s miscue out of a fairway bunker on 18 yesterday was painful to watch. Now, not as painful as watching Lexi Thompson’s back nine yesterday at the KPMG, but BAD!
Here is the moment yesterday afternoon that made us all feel queasy.
“Sahith, come here big boy. We’ve got some hugs for you.”
Xander puckered up and birdied the last to win by two.
This victory is big for him and he now can whip the 2.5-year winless-run monkey off of his back.
2nd best story of the tourney: Amateur Michael Thorbjornsen finished in 4th alone at -15. He’s headed back to Stanford this fall sans the $400k he would have made at the Travelers had he been playing in the tourney as a pro. Instead, he took home a $1,000 merch cert for the TPC Highlands pro shop. Not as nice.
Results and $ breakdown
Win: Xander Schuaffele, -19, $1,494,000
T-2: Sahith Theegala, -17, $738,700
T-2: J.T. Poston, -17, $738,700
4: Michael Thorbjornsen, -16, Amateur
5: Chesson Hadley, 266/-14, $406,700
T-6: Kevin Kisner, 268/-12, $320,587.50
T-6: Keith Mitchell, 268/-12, $320,587.50
T-8: Nick Hardy, 269/-11, $243,605
T-8: Brian Harman, 269/-11, $243,605
T-8: William McGirt, 269/-11, $243,605
T-8: Chez Reavie, 269/-11, $243,605
T-8: Scott Stallings, 269/-11, $243,605
T-13: Patrick Cantlay, 270/-10, $159,775
T-13: Tony Finau, 270/-10, $159,775
T-13: John Huh, 270/-10, $159,775
T-13: Martin Laird, 270/-10, $159,775
T-13: Scottie Scheffler, 270/-10, $159,775
T-13: Webb Simpson, 270/-10, $159,775
T-19: Keegan Bradley, 271/-9, $106,101.67
T-19: Luke List, 271/-9, $106,101.67
T-19: Rory McIlroy, 271/-9, $106,101.67
T-19: Matthew NeSmith, 271/-9, $106,101.67
T-19: Harris English, 271/-9, $106,101.66
T-19: K.H. Lee, 271/-9, $106,101.66