Pacific Palisades, Calif. – After the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open, two letters appeared next to Xander Schauffele’s name on the leaderboard that hadn’t been there in a long, long time: MC.
The 10-time PGA Tour champion, two-time major champion and 2020 Olympic gold medalist missed the cut for the first time since failing to qualify for the 2022 Masters weekend. Schauffele earned a check in 72 consecutive games, but that record was broken in his hometown of La Jolla.
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That was followed by a T-41 at the WM Phoenix Open and a T-19 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. For a player of Schauffele’s caliber, those results are, as the kids say, “middling.”
Xander Schauffele watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the Genesis Invitational.
But after shooting 68-65 in the first two rounds of the Genesis Invitational, Schauffele will enter the weekend in a more familiar place: contention.
Fridays at the Riviera is not original, nor is it a flag-hunting exhibition. It’s a methodical journey around one of the most revered courses on the PGA Tour.
Schauffele started the day on the 11th hole after his first-round match was suspended Thursday night because of darkness. Birdies at 12, 13, 15 and 17 helped Schauffele methodically climb the leaderboard.
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After a quick break, Schauffele, Scotty Scheffler and Si-woo Kim returned to the first tee to start the second round, with Schauffele making an eagle on the 495-yard, par-5 first hole for the second consecutive day. He made four birdies in the next 10 holes, including consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, pushing his score to 9 under par. After bogeying the 15th hole, he stabilized his form and birdied the 17th hole, eventually finishing tied for third at 9 under.
“I’m tired, man,” Schauffele said after playing 27 holes on Friday after Thursday’s weather-related postponement. “It’s nice to put together some great golf and some holes, but it’s definitely going to be tiring.”
Fatigue is understandable. The calm Riviera requires discipline and focus. On the Riviera after a heavy rain, the green bluegrass is so loose and long that it requires full concentration.
“Typically, you work hard to hit certain holes,” Schauffele said. “Now, when you come out of it, you’re like, ‘Oh, here’s a jumper, it might make the pin fly out,’ and you’re like, that’s actually pretty good because it’s going to plug in.”
Xander Schauffele holed the putt on the ninth green during the second round of the Genesis Invitational
Schauffele, who hit 13 of 18 greens in the regular season and required just 27 putts, hit four more shots from tee to green in the second round. Through 36 holes, he made 175 feet of putts, a reminder that when the putter cooperates, everything seems more manageable.
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The 68-65 start was a good sign that Schauffele’s game might be getting back into shape, but the most encouraging thing is that he did it without feeling completely in sync.
“I wouldn’t say I felt super comfortable yesterday or today, but was able to make some putts and get some things going,” he said. “When you’re not feeling well, it’s good to run together.”
This is the difference between a good week and a serious week. Many players shoot 65 when their swing feels perfect. If that’s not the case and you’re still climbing up the leaderboard, that’s when the tournament starts to tilt in your favor.
Schauffele insists the number “13” next to his name in the world rankings is just a number. But it feels like a quiet reset after a stretch last season of not living up to his own standards. Not a comeback. Just a reminder.
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Conditions may firm up over the weekend. The Riviera looks less wet, less fluffy, and more punishing for any slightly offline version. Schauffele didn’t sound particularly concerned about when or how the pitch was played. He just wants to play here.
Through 36 holes, he did it again.
This article originally appeared in Golfweek: Genesis Invitational: Xander Schauffele competes after Friday’s 65