Xander Schauffele has struggled to replicate the form he showed in 2024 so far this season.
Schauffele won two majors in 2024, one of them being the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
The 32-year-old will be hoping to get his hands on the Wanamaker trophy once again this week at Aronimink.
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Xander Schauffele is still one of the favorites to win the PGA Championship this week at Aronimink.
The two-time major winner has only played one tournament at Aronimink in his career – way back in 2018 at the BMW Championship when he finished in a tie for third.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Schauffele is being backed to enjoy success at the PGA Championship this week.
He hasn’t actually contended to win this on the PGA Tour this year, but he has been incredibly consistent.
However, will the golf course actually suit his game?
Xander Schauffele says what is ‘diabolical’ about Aronimink
Schauffele addressed the media at Aronimink on Tuesday ahead of the start of the PGA Championship on Thursday.
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There has been talk that the players could overpower the golf course this week, but is that how Schauffele sees it?
The two-time major champion responded when asked what he made of Aronimink during his practice round ahead of the PGA Championship.
“The course is — luckily the weather has kind of held up,“ Schauffele said.
“It’s nice to see the sun, a little bit cooler weather than what we’ve had on other parts of the TOUR.
Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images
“Weather’s good. Course is firming up. Greens are diabolical. It should be a really good test.
“This week is greens are the biggest protection this week. They’re going to hold up, for sure.
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“I think they’re going to cause some problems and make it really tricky on little pitch shots or two-putting or things of that nature. That’s the biggest protection the course has.“
Xander Schauffele could be perfectly suited to Aronimink
For a major championship golf course in the modern era, Aronimink is on the shorter side.
The par-70 layout stretches out to 7,394 yards, so it’s still plenty long enough.
However, the main defence of the golf course will be the undulating greens, especially if the wind kicks up and the rain stays away.
If Aronimink does play hard and fast, Xander Schauffele will no doubt relish the challenge.
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He is one of the game’s premium ball-strikers, with his exceptional driving of the ball and pinpoint iron play.
And if he manages to put everything together this week, he could well walk away from Aronimink as a two-time PGA Championship winner.
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