'There is a microscope on him': Schauffele talks McIlroy's U.S. Open heartbreak

Xander Schauffele teed off about an hour earlier than the ultimate two pairings did on the U.S. Open on Sunday, which meant he bought again to his rental simply in time to look at the end unfold on TV, similar to the remainder of the world.

“It was fairly wild,” Schauffele stated on Tuesday on the Travelers Championship. “As a fan, I’m certain it was very thrilling and for me it was only a loopy end, for certain.”

Coming off his PGA Championship victory a month earlier, Schauffele tied for seventh at Pinehurst No. 2. Bryson DeChambeau, you would possibly recall, received after he bought up and down from a bunker to save lots of par on the 72nd gap. That allowed him to edge Rory McIlroy — who missed two quick par putts on two of his final three holes (together with one on the 18th) — by a stroke.

It was a crushing defeat for McIlroy, who’s nonetheless in search of his first main title because the 2014 PGA. The 35-year-old professional left with out speaking to reporters. On Monday, he withdrew from this week’s Vacationers — a Signature Occasion — and stated he plans to take “just a few weeks away” to course of the week.

“As a competitor all of us have had our highs and lows to a sure diploma,” Schauffele stated Tuesday, when requested about McIlroy. “It’s a troublesome spot. It for certain is a troublesome spot. I’m certain him and his group are discussing what occurred and typically you simply have to step away from all of it and actually attempt to be as goal as attainable, since you’re very a lot within the second there and it clearly didn’t go his method and he’s simply, you recognize, he wants a while away to determine what’s occurring.”

McIlroy stated he’ll return on the Genesis Scottish Open, the place he’s the defending champion, on July 11-14; he’ll additionally play the next week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Schauffele stated coping with robust losses just like the one McIlroy simply went by is completely different for everybody.

“It’s arduous to for me to check my losses to his losses,” he stated. “I might say his, he’s underneath a bit extra of a microscope. When issues are going very well persons are throughout him, and sadly when issues don’t go your method persons are throughout him. So, there’s a microscope on him on why he didn’t win and issues of that nature and he’s going to must reply these questions in some unspecified time in the future and he’ll, as a result of he at all times does. So, for me, I put on them fairly arduous, however typically it’s good to only get again on the horse and compete. Like I stated, everybody handles these conditions in a different way, and it’s these instances the place you simply lean in your group and everybody round you that helps you that complete time to present you that confidence to get again on the horse and hold chugging alongside.”

Schauffele is paired with Matthieu Pavon for the primary two rounds of the Vacationers at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. They tee off at 1:50 p.m. ET on Thursday. You’ll be able to observe alongside on ESPN+ with featured group protection all day or watch on Golf Channel when the printed begins at 3 p.m.

Josh Berhow

Golf.com Editor

As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of many sport’s most-read information and repair web sites. He spends most of his days writing, enhancing, planning and questioning if he’ll ever break 80. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF.com in 2015, he labored at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State College in Mankato, Minn., he resides within the Twin Cities along with his spouse and two children. You’ll be able to attain him at [email protected].