Xander Schauffele is positioned very nicely indeed after two rounds of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Schauffele has played some solid, if not spectacular, golf this season.
He hasn’t managed to win on the PGA Tour this season, but he does have five top-10 finishes to his name in 12 events.
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However, Xander Schauffele will fancy his chances of getting over the line and finally getting his first win of the season at the US Open this week.
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
On paper, the 32-year-old’s game and elite mentality should be perfectly suited to the test that Shinnecock Hills presents.
Schauffele was heavily fancied to win a major championship at the start of 2026, and it seems like the US Open this week might just represent his best chance of doing so.
Xander Schauffele predicts what score could win the US Open
Schauffele carded an exceptional second round of 66 at Shinnecock Hills on Friday to follow up his 71 on day one.
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The Californian is sitting in a tie for second on three-under par, four shots adrift of the leader, Wyndham Clark.
After his second round, Schauffele responded when asked what he has made of the setup at Shinnecock Hills so far this week.
Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images
“Yeah, I mean, I truly believe if the USGA wanted to have some fun and with the wind coming through and firm up the greens, I mean, over-par will win this golf tournament again, sitting at whatever all these guys under par. I do believe this course can be that way.
“Really the cliched you grind on every single shot really matters when you think of it, waking up Monday and the score.
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“When someone tells you even-par is going to win, you are, like, oh, well, that’s kind of crazy. It goes without saying. You try to focus as much as you can for the six hours you’re out there, five and a half hours you’re out there to really hit every shot, whether it’s a driver, a 2-foot putt with full attention.“
Xander Schauffele delivers verdict on his game
Schauffele told reporters how he played superbly well on Friday at Shinnecock Hills.
“I played great today. Pretty motivated after last night. Winds are laying down, and being in that easier wave and not taking advantage of it was a big bummer.
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“Pretty pumped to come out and shoot something low.
“Yeah, it’s just a lot of patience and good golf shots, for the most part.
“I feel like U.S. Opens, the championship itself just wears you out. It’s a long way, and you really feel it after.
If you can do some work in between, you can get rewarded for it. So that’s sort of what I try and do.“
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