Xander Schauffele is having one of the most dominant years in professional golf, and he credits much of his success to the solid support system he has back at home.
Schauffele, who won The Open Championship in July, just two months after claiming his first major victory at the PGA Championship in May, spoke exclusively to Us Weekly last month after lifting the Claret Jug at Scotland’s Royal Troon. He couldn’t help but give credit to his wife, Maya, and their two beloved dogs for their unwavering support.
“We just moved to Florida this past year,” Schauffele said. “Part of that move was to be closer to tournaments, so my wife and my dogs can travel with me. It’s definitely a reason I’m playing better. Just having that sense of home and a concrete foundation makes a huge difference.”
He continued, “My wife and my dogs are my family right now. I don’t have any kids yet.”
Schauffele and Maya met while attending San Diego State University in 2014 and got married in 2021, with both of their dogs present at the ceremony.
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“Coming home to see them is amazing because none of them care about golf too much,” Schauffele said with a laugh.
Maya is a regular presence at her husband’s tournaments, even accompanying him to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Schauffele began his quest for a gold medal representing Team USA on Thursday, August 1, alongside teammates Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Wyndham Clark.
“My wife just wants me to be happy; that’s really what it comes down to,” Schauffele acknowledged. “I’m so lucky she lets me be so selfish and play golf for a living. She’s super supportive every single week.”
Schauffele admitted that he has difficulty sitting still, even during his off weeks when he’s supposed to be relaxing.
“She knows that I need to practice and she just lets me do my thing,” he said. “There’s no resentment there. I feel super fortunate to have someone like Maya by my side pushing me along.”
He referred to his wife and their dogs as his “comfort zone” and joked that they do a great job of keeping him humble.
“I don’t need to talk about golf when I’m with them,” he said. “They don’t care who I am or what I’ve done. My dogs don’t care about my achievements; they just want to be with me.”
Although it’s challenging for him to completely switch off from golf, Schauffele admitted that Maya sometimes manages to get him to relax and think about other things, even if only briefly.
“If I’m taking a day off, I’ll usually spend it with her,” he noted. “Depending on where we are, we’ll try meeting up with some friends, just getting back to what feels normal and having a few moments away from the game.”
The men’s Olympic golf tournament, being held at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, will conclude on Sunday, August 4. Schauffele is looking to add an Olympic medal to his growing collection of accolades. With the steadfast support of his wife and dogs, he’s confident and motivated to achieve even greater heights.
