Xander Schauffele certainly had reasons to celebrate after his triumphant performance at The British Open last month.
However, he soon found himself grappling with the realities of indulging in heavy drinking for three consecutive days in his 30s.
Initially, Scottie Scheffler was the favorite to win The British Open at Royal Troon. Yet, Schauffele managed to create a surprising twist in the debate over which golfer has had the best year by clinching the Claret Jug with a two-stroke victory.
This latest win came just two months after Schauffele secured his first major title at the PGA Championship. While Scheffler boasts more victories this season, Schauffele’s impressive résumé—featuring a dozen Top 10 finishes, including two runner-up performances in the 18 events he has competed in—puts him in strong contention for having the best year in golf.
One of the unique traditions associated with the Claret Jug is using it as a drinking vessel. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Schauffele shared that he celebrated his victory by using the Jug to drink red wine with his dad before switching to tequila. It was clear that these were not the only alcoholic beverages consumed during his post-victory celebrations.
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Schauffele had ample time to recover from the festivities before heading to France to represent the United States at the Olympics. Before his first round at Le Golf National, he reflected on the aftermath of his celebratory bender during a media session.
“I don’t really drink much alcohol. So three days in a row drinking was quite a feat for myself, and the recovery…that was also slow,” Schauffele admitted.
He elaborated on the impact, noting, “I wear an Oura ring or WHOOP to track my sleep every day—it took a while for me to get my scores back to where they normally are. Put it that way.”
The toll of the celebration was evident, but Schauffele’s resilience and humor shone through as he prepared to take on his next challenge at the Olympics.
Xander Schauffele’s recent accomplishments and his candid reflections on the celebrations highlight the joys and challenges of life as a top-tier athlete.
His ability to perform at an elite level, both on the golf course and in managing the aftermath of his victories, continues to endear him to fans and solidifies his standing as one of golf’s premier talents.
