Xander Schauffele In A Questionably Optimistic Spot Ahead Of Augusta
4 days agoComing off the season Xander Schauffele had in 2024, the beginning of this year hasn't been as smooth or dominant as many expected. A nagging rib injury kept him out for two months, and after making just three starts since his return to golf before this week, he'll tee it up on Thursday with seemingly more questions than answers. The rust that developed over his layoff is most evident in his putting and chipping, as he's averaging negative averages in both strokes gained metrics since his return. It was intriguing to see him gain more than 11 shots on approach at the Valspar, but he'll certainly need a more complete game to contend at Augusta National. He's still the third-best golfer on the planet right now, and he's undoubtedly been preparing for this week away from the spotlight. At $11,600 on FanDuel, he is still a fine play on pure talent and course history alone. However, he doesn't possess the same "must-have" feel he would have had five months ago.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour

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