USA TODAY International Edition
Cantlay, Schauffele team up in Big Easy
Ever since the Zurich Classic of New Orleans transitioned from your run- of- the- mill 72- hole stroke play event to a two- man team format in 2017, one of the big early week questions for the players has been, how did they select their partner?
When Jamie Lovemark was asked in the inaugural year to describe in three words how he wound up paired with Englishman Luke Donald, he paused, counted on his hand and said, “Des- per- ation.”
For some, securing a partner to the only official team event on the PGA Tour schedule has been akin to finding a prom date.
Patrick Cantlay acted early. Beginning at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January, Cantlay, 29, has been hounding Xander Schauffele to partner with him at TPC Louisiana. To hear Schauffele, 27, tell it, he enjoyed playing the role of hard to get, especially as Cantlay applied the full- court press with members of his team, including instructor Jamie Mulligan, sending text messages on his behalf.
“I was kind of messing with Pat,” Schauffele said. “I had a little inside game with Jamie to lead Pat on for a few months here, even though I was kind of com
mitting to playing anyways.”
Schauffele could not remember whether he was the last one to earn a spot into the Zurich Classic field in 2017, his only previous tournament appearance, or not, but he was “auto- paired” with journeyman pro Tag Ridings.
“I was just happy at that point my rookie year to get in,” Schauffele said.
This time he can count on better team chemistry.
The budding bromance between Cantlay and Schauffele dates to the Presidents Cup in Australia in 2019 when they bonded playing gin on the flight and ended up as partners in all four of the team sessions, going 2- 2. Ever since, they’ve become regular practice- round partners, which should come in handy when playing two different formats: four- ball ( best- ball on
Thursday and Saturday) and foursomes ( alternate- shot, Friday and Sunday).
“We do enjoy a game every week, it’s very competitive, and we feel like when we play against each other it sort of sharpens ourselves for the best week possible,” Schauffele said.
Together they form the highestranked team in the field this week with both players in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking ( Schauffele No. 5, Cantlay No. 10). There is much to like about their games and where they could be headed. Schauffele is coming off a tie for second at the Masters, his sixth top- 5 finish in a major since 2017, second only to Brooks Koepka, who has four victories during that time span. When Schauffele was asked if he still thought his tee shot at the par- 3 16th hole in the final round of the Masters, which he deemed “perfect” despite trickling into the water and sealed his fate, he deadpanned, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” before adding, “Yeah. Yes, I did. I’m still happy with the shot I hit.”
Cantlay had been red hot with a victory at the Zozo Championship in October, runner- up at the American Express in January and a share of third at the
AT& T Pebble Beach Pro- Am before cooling off with missed cuts in consecutive events.
Both of their futures appear so bright they ought to wear sunglasses at night.
“You all seem to write articles saying that we’re under the radar or unsung or whatever. You guys have better adjectives for that,” Cantlay said.
This week may serve as a dress rehearsal for a starring role on Team USA at the Ryder Cup in late September. It hasn’t gone unnoticed by U. S. team captain Steve Stricker that they could be a reliable pairing not just for this year at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, but for years to come. Making a good impression with Stricker, however, isn’t foremost on their mind.
“He knows that I would love to play with Pat and vice versa,” Schauffele said. “It’s a fun week that we don’t get to do very often. Yes, it’s a Ryder Cup year, but I think it’s more so Pat and I are buddies and we’re definitely trying to win this golf tournament.”