Schauffele feeling effects of Californian lockdown
The physical toll from a long stint in isolation is an obvious downside, however, the mental toll can be just as insidious.
PGA Tour pros are used to a life on the road, which involves long hours outdoors on the course practising and playing.
Xander Schauffele (Credit: PGA Tour)
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions put in place to curb its spread, those same pros have now found themselves under lock and key and for some, the space inside their head is the hardest place to be.
Four-time PGA Tour winner, Xander Schauffele, is one of those who is beginning to feel the effects of “cabin fever” in the three weeks since The Players Championship was cancelled.
Schauffele was enjoying a stellar 2019-2020 season after earlier finishing runner-up at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and Sentry Tournament of Champions followed recently by string of top-25 results.
However, the World No.12 is now holed up with his girlfriend in their two-bedroom San Diego apartment and Schauffele is doing his best to stay in shape for when the Tour returns but it’s no easy task.
“I’ve lost a sense of purpose here in terms of work, I guess,” Schauffele said in a press conference. “I’m feeling unemployed and with no date in terms of us coming back.”
“After a week, it started to feel like I was home for two months…I’d say it probably sank in that we’re kind of in here for the long haul.”
Recent cancellations of headline events such as Wimbeldon and the on-again/off-again rumours this week surrounding the staging of the Open Championship haven’t helped alleviate any of those concerns with Schauffele well aware that the break may be far longer than expected.
It’s a tough road ahead but Schauffele knows he will be ready and waiting when the PGA Tour gives players the green light.
“I feel like I’m in a state where I can pick up my clubs and play whenever.”
“It’d probably take two weeks for me to feel really confident…but if I had to go tee it up in a Tour event tomorrow, I think I’d have the belief that I could do it.”
