PGA Tour star Xander Schauffele came into Round 3 of the 2023 U.S. Open just two strokes back of the lead. However, his round got off to a brutal start after he made a disastrous mistake on the opening hole.
Schauffele has had a fantastic tournament thus far, even breaking the course record along with 36-hole leader Rickie Fowler in Round 1 with a score of 62.
The opening hole has been the easiest on the course all tournament. Schauffele made it look like perhaps the most difficult hole after an errant tee shot sent him into the bunker.
Most players would have simply pitched out onto the fairway and tried to reach the green on his third shot. Instead, Schauffele seemingly tried to get close to the green, which resulted in him hitting the lip of the bunker and the ball flew even further back. He then tried the same thing on his third shot, and unfortunately he found the same result.
A tough start for Xander at No. 1. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/miLfNPydiQ
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 17, 2023
Many around the golf world took notice of his struggles on the hole and weirdly related to just how hard golf can be at times.
Never have I ever been able to relate more to a professional golfer than watching Xander Schauffele hit the lip in the fairway bunker twice today at the 1st at the US Open.
The difference?
He salvages a bogey.
I make a 20 and break all my clubs.
— Jack Benjamin (@JackBenjaminPxP) June 17, 2023
Xander Schauffele with the most impressive bogey-par start to a round I've seen.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) June 17, 2023
Absolute disaster for Xander Schauffele 😬
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) June 17, 2023
Xander Schauffele. #OneOfUs 👏
— Noah Bieniek (@NoahB77_) June 17, 2023
😳 Absolutely NOT the start Xander Schauffele wanted pic.twitter.com/n85kKd8Q0M
— bunkered (@BunkeredOnline) June 17, 2023
Xander Schauffele is every guy at their local public course 9 light beers deep https://t.co/lHQ0q57kE9
— Joe Pop (@JoePops_) June 17, 2023
He was finally able to get out of the bunker on his fourth shot and actually managed to somehow make a bogey on the hole, which is fantastic all things considered.
Regardless, it is not the start that he would have hoped for, especially since he had to watch his playing partner Rory McIlroy birdie the hole.
There has been a ton of talk this week about how this year’s U.S. Open is not nearly as difficult as past years. However, holes like this show that there are still serious issues for players that find themselves out of position.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.