Xander Schauffele
AGE 27 LIVES San Diego
STORY Winner of four PGA Tour events, including the 2017 Tour Championship.
TRYING TIMES California was one of the first states to go into lockdown mode last March. I’ve always wanted time off during or after a season, but not in that style. When things got bad, the gym in my condo complex shut down. After that, it was a challenge to stay motivated. When golf courses opened up, I practised for about a month before we started playing the tour again. I was fired up about that.
DRIVER
SPECS Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero, 8.3°, Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7x shaft, 45.43 inches.
▶ This is the triple diamond Sub Zero model, which is the most neutral head they have in terms of face angle. I like to shape the ball all directions, and I want that to be on me and not the club. I use the adjustable hosel to bring the loft down to 8.3 degrees.
FAIRWAY WOODS
SPECS Callaway Rogue Sub Zero, 15° and 18°; Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8x shafts.
▶ From 250 yards, I used to watch other guys float 5-woods onto the green and hold it. I was using a long iron, hoping to land in a greenside bunker because I couldn’t stop it on the green. That’s why I carry the 5-wood now. The shot I hit on the last hole at Sentry [2019 win] was a 5-wood. It’s a go-to club.
IRONS
SPECS Callaway Apex Pro (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts; Golf Pride Z Grip cord grips.
▶ I wanted a little less offset on these. I don’t lose much on a mis-hit, but they move through the ground like a blade. I’ve been trying a prototype Apex recently. Don’t be surprised to see those in my bag soon.
WEDGES
SPECS Callaway MD5 Jaws (53°), Titleist Vokey SM6 (57°), Titleist Vokey SM8 (61°); True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts.
▶ I keep my gap and sand wedge as is, but I mix things up with the lob wedge. I have four or five sole grinds I use depending on the turf conditions we’re playing that week. Each of my wedges is bent a degree weak to hit the right distance gap.
PUTTER
SPECS Odyssey O-Works #7 Red Crank Hosel, 34.375 inches, 3° loft, SuperStroke Tour 2.0 grip.
▶ The hosel on my putter is one you normally see on blades, not mallets. It creates a little bit of toe hang, whereas many mallets are face-balanced. The hosel helps it swing a little easier, and those two long, white parallel lines let me know when I’m not doing the right thing with the stroke.
