Xander Schauffele is back at his hometown event, the Farmers Insurance Open, and doesn't believe Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego is in danger of being trimmed from future PGA Tour schedules.
The event has an uncertain future because Farmers' sponsorship is ending after this week's tournament, and because rumors of a contracted PGA Tour schedule have circulated far and wide. It's a similar situation to the tour's two Hawaii events, as the sport investigates a later start to the season to avoid
competing with January football and to give players more rest.
Unlike the Hawaii events, the Farmers Insurance Open is played at an iconic venue that's hosted major championships, most notably Tiger Woods' 19-hole playoff win over Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open.
"(I'm) biased obviously, born and raised in San Diego and was running around here when I was a teenager in high school," Schauffele said.
"I think I would feel like Torrey's safe if you kind of look at the schedule just from it should find a home just because this property's iconic. It's a beautiful property, it's a big property, it's a I think Tiger single-handedly has made this property incredibly special in terms of a history (of) golf."
The PGA and Open Championship winner in 2024, Schauffele was in danger of a winless 2025 season until he picked up the title in his final start of the season, October's Baycurrent Classic in Japan. The Farmers will be Schauffele's first start since then.
"It feels like I'm starting from scratch," Schauffele said. "The win kind of -- I thought I did a lot of things really well that week and kind of got in the right mindset even though I was a bit rusty golf-wise. Definitely learned some things that week about sort of the mentality and sort of how focused of an approach I can actually have throughout a week of golf."
There's been a big change from last season to now. Schauffele became a father in late August, and apart from competing in the Ryder Cup and the Baycurrent Classic, he was able to spend several months at home with his wife and baby Victor.
"I think carrying a kid, I'm learning like just so slowly, you get like dad shoulder, neck's all messed up, you know what I mean?" Schauffele said. "Stuff just happens when you're holding like a 15-pound, 20-pound bowling ball all day. I can't imagine how my wife feels, to be honest."
He's played 18-hole matches with some peers since getting to San Diego earlier this month, and he plans to play "a lot of golf" over the next two months to tap back into the mindset he rediscovered in Japan.
Schauffele also commented on the PGA Tour return of Brooks Koepka, who defected to LIV Golf in 2022 but became the first high-wattage star to return.
"I don't know Brooks like crazy well, but I've always gotten along with him," Schauffele said. "I think he wanted to be back and I think the tour found a way to pave a path for himself and a few others.
"I haven't seen him or spoken with him yet, but I'm sure I'll see him either tomorrow or throughout the week back on the full circuit. I think it helps our tour. ... It's not going to make the tour weaker having a five-time major (champion) just want to come back and play."
--Field Level Media
