Standing on the 11th tee during Sunday’s final round, Xander Schauffele faced one of the most intimidating tee shots in professional golf. Trailing by two strokes, he hit a pure 319-yard tee shot down the left side, safely away from the train tracks and into a fine lie in the fescue. From there, Schauffele played a brilliant 170-yard approach shot to within three feet of the hole, making the only birdie of the day on the 489-yard 11th.

Schauffele never looked back. He went on to make three more birdies, posting a bogey-free, six-under-par 65. It was the low round of the day and good enough to secure the second career major championship of his career (and his second of 2024.)

Speaking on the set of Live From following his win, Schauffele discussed the 11th hole and how his experience with links golf prepared him for success in that moment. He anticipated the ball coming out of the fescue hot, so he played a “links shot,” bouncing up a pitching wedge instead of flying a 7-iron all the way to the hole as he would in the States.

In the same conversation, Schauffele emphasized the value of preparing for Troon by playing the Scottish Open. “We don’t have deep bunkers with fine sand in it, we don’t have fescue, we don’t have firm fairways, we don’t have slow greens, we don’t have 30 mph winds. Your 4-iron won’t roll 50 yards. Everything is completely different from what we’re used to in the States. To me, it’s a no-brainer to come over a week before, to acclimate, get used to hitting putts harder, putting downwind, putting into the wind – all of those things.” He went on to mention the importance of adjusting to a different time zone, saying that “After four or five days (of acclimation), I feel like my feet are grounded.”

Setting aside other implications of his comments, such as further evidence of Team USA’s lack of preparedness in arriving in Rome just four days before the 2023 Ryder Cup, Xander’s remarks underscore the homogeneity and consistency that characterize much of the professional golf schedule. That was a sentiment echoed by Paul McGinley throughout the week.

If you don’t have any of the elements that Schauffele described, what do you have? Homogeneity. Perhaps it is fitting that on a golf course that presented a variety of wind directions and playing conditions, arguably the sport’s most well-rounded golfer emerged victorious.

2024 has been a breakout year for the 30-year-old Schauffele, who was already one of the best and most consistent players in golf entering this season. After a close call at the Players, he posted major finishes of 8-1-T-7-1, Schauffele is unquestionably the best performer in major championships in 2024.

Per Justin Ray, Xander is now just the third golfer since 1980 to finish in the top eight in all four majors in a season while also nabbing at least two major wins, joining Tiger Woods (2000, 2005) and Jordan Spieth (2015). He has also quietly assembled a major championship résumé that rivals nearly any other active player under the age of 40. Since making his major championship debut in 2017, Xander Schauffele has finished in the top 10 in 15 of 30 (50%) major starts. Only Scottie Scheffler (60%) and Rory McIlroy (55%) boast a higher percentage among players with at least 20 major starts during that period. For reference, Xander now has more top 10s (15) in major championships than Jon Rahm (13), and the same number of wins, despite making fewer major starts.

Debate will ensue about where Xander ranks among the world’s best players, and also who deserves PGA Tour Player of the Year honors between Xander and Scottie Scheffler. What’s indisputable, though, is that he has the game and the self-belief to compete against any other player in the world on any golf course. Looking ahead to the 2025 majors, it seems foolish to bet on many players outperforming Xander Schauffele.

This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. For more coverage of the Open Championship, visit our Open hub.