Xander schauffele schauffele

Congratulations on your fourth PGA Tour win. Take us through the feelings down the stretch and also in the scoring trailer while you were watching Gary Woodland finish up.

It was a bit nerve-racking, honestly. Funnily enough, I was asked if I wanted to watch it with Todd [from Golf Channel] but a camera would be on me, so I decided to stay in the scoring trailer. We heard some sighs in the distance and then I watched Gary’s putt, so it was kind of a weird feeling.

Did you know that eagle putt on 18 was for the course record?

I did not, but I’m glad, because I’m sure it would have pissed me off if someone had told me first and then I’d missed. I’m glad I had no idea! [he missed but tied the course record].

All four of your wins have been come-frombehind triumphs. Do you have a theory as to why that is?

I have no idea. I don’t know if it makes me more or less comfortable. I was chasing at one point. Once I had a share of the lead coming down the stretch I was pretty nervous. I told someone earlier I really didn’t want to have that downhill putt to win on the 18th – in my mind it was to win, just because it’s a hard hole to eagle. I was pretty nervous and pulled it quite badly, but Gary was kind enough to make par on the last and let me off without a play-off!

When you first came out on tour and won those first two events, you talked about how you were feeding off that underdog mentality. Clearly you’re not that anymore. Where are you getting the motivation from now that you’re one of the big guns?

Honestly, I don’t know. I still feel like an underdog. I feel like until you’re number one, you’re chasing. Guys like Bryson and Justin Thomas have been great recently and Brooks Koepka has been crushing it. They keep putting that flag way out there for me to go and chase, and I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing.

So your mindset hasn’t changed even though you’ve shot up the world rankings in the last 12 months? When you look back at your first season, you won in the middle and then at the last event of the season, the Tour Championship. Now you’re in a position where you’ve won twice early. Does that readjust your thinking and hopes for the rest of the year?

Yeah, I’ve always been pretty good at coming into form midway through the season, so it is pretty special to play well early in the year. And China [the WGC-HSBC Champions, where he won] was late last year, when I normally don’t do that well either. Hopefully I don’t jinx myself for the middle of this year, but it should be a pretty fun 2019.

This is a Presidents Cup year. Is making that team on your list of goals?

Yeah, of course. It’s at the back of my mind. Once people start talking about it, I’m sure I’ll start looking at the standings. But it’s still very early in the season, and it’s just about putting your head down and trying your best.