Xander Schauffele will head to next week’s Open Championship as the defending champion, but the world No. 3 gave a frank and honest assessment of his current form

Xander Schauffele is at the Scottish Open this week(Image: Getty Images)

Xander Schauffele has admitted his 2025 season on the PGA Tour has been “pretty bad”, with the Californian getting ready to defend his Open Championship title next week.

Schauffele secured his second major title in three starts last July, pipping Justin Rose to the Claret Jug at the 2024 Open. One year on, the U.S. Ryder Cup star’s return as Champion Golfer of The Year is right around the corner.

After his Open win last summer, Schauffele was expected to continue adding to his title tally, having announced himself as the game’s in-form player alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Things, however, have not worked out that way, with Schauffele’s 2025 campaign hampered by injury. Before he returns to The Open, Schauffele is back in action at the Genesis Scottish Open this week, and ahead of Thursday’s opening round, he had his say on his current form.

“It’s been a pretty bad year to be completely honest,” Schauffele told reporters on Tuesday. “I feel like I haven’t tried to add on too many other events, and I’ve tried to just play to an incredible — get to an incredible place with less starts, which is really hard to do these days.

“I’m trying to do a lot of things, and I think the best part of my game has probably been my mental just fortitude, whatever you want to call it, just to try to stay positive and behave as if I am playing really well. But coming off a year like last year, getting hurt, coming back, my expectations and playing ability have not cued up very nicely.”

Xander Schauffele won The Open(Image: Getty Images)

Despite a tough run of form, Schauffele still finds himself third in the world rankings, and having proven his worth on the links stage, will have some confidence heading into his next two tournaments. “I think it’s massive across the board,” Schauffele said of returning to the UK.

“Just hard to replicate any sort of tournament feel back home in the States, where you can hit an iron, the same club, a difference of 50 to 60 yards just based on how you hit it or what kind of wind you get. There’s only one way to get that done, and it’s coming over here.

“And whether it’s hitting drivers in crosswinds or getting used to a different bounce with your wedge or trying to hit it over those big lips that you guys have over here, it’s a lot of fun to prepare that way.” During his pre-tournament press conference, Schauffele was also quizzed on the Ryder Cup and his captain, Keegan Bradley.

There is no doubt Schauffele will feature as one of the 12 players at Bethpage Black, and he could be joined by captain Bradley, who has played his way into contention in recent months. “Clearly he’s earning it,” The Open champion said of Bradley’s chances of being a playing captain.

“If you ask him, he’s playing the best golf of his career. We just want our best 12 playing… Would I be surprised if he got into the top six and wasn’t even a conversation anymore? I don’t think I’d be very surprised, and I don’t think he would, either.

“You know, if he does, it’s going to be a fun situation for himself, but I think he’s surrounded himself with really good vice-captains. I don’t think he’s going to make a decision he regrets.” Schauffele will kick off his week on Thursday, playing alongside Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland in the opening two rounds.