Xander Schauffele’s rocky start to 2025 just got a little rockier. The world number two got off to a rough start, missing The American Express and a TGL match due to a rib injury that left him sidelined. Schauffele’s team later revealed that he had been nursing an acute intercostal strain and micro tear in his rib cage, which he sustained during a pre-season workout. Thankfully, he was eventually cleared to practice again, providing a much-needed boost to the PGA Tour, which had been struggling to get its star players on the course. The golfer was also set to make a strong comeback in the upcoming Genesis Invitational, but now the chances of that have diminished it seems.
Per the latest tweet from Johnston Garrett, it looks like Xander Schauffele’s return to golf will have to wait a bit longer. Despite initial reports suggesting he might make a comeback at The Genesis Invitational, Schauffele has now been ruled out of the entire tournament due to his lingering rib injury. “Despite reports of a possible return, Xander will miss the entire west coast swing due to a rib injury. He’ll take more time to get healthy and will likely return for the Florida swing”, read the tweet.
Schauffele himself has talked about the declining form that led to his recent absence from PGA Tour events, suggesting that he probably shouldn’t have pushed himself to play at The Sentry while nursing an injury. “The Sentry was tough. In honesty, I probably shouldn’t have played Sentry. I was trying my hardest for me to sort of come into the new year, semi-hurt, get worse, and now I’m sidelined. Just trying to learn from this really and come back at 100%,” Schauffele said, per The Golfing Gazette.
— According to @JohnstonGarrett, Xander Schauffele won’t play The Genesis Invitational.
Despite reports of a possible return, Xander will miss the entire west coast swing due to a rib injury.
He’ll take more time to get healthy and will likely return for the Florida swing. pic.twitter.com/PVDX0r05YR
— Xander Schauffele Legion (@XanderLegion) February 7, 2025
Fans are glad to see the golfer prioritizing his health but are evidently upset as they’ll have to wait more for the golfer’s return. Schauffele’s injury has been plaguing his performance for a long time.
The injury that’s been holding Xander Schauffele back
Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis revealed that World No. 2 Xander Schauffele has been dealing with a right rib injury since late 2023. The injury, a soft tissue issue rather than a skeletal problem, has been bothering Schauffele for months. Despite playing through the pain at The Sentry, he went on to withdraw from several events, including the American Express and the Farmers Insurance Open, his hometown event.
Lewis shared that Schauffele was not making any full swings before his expected participation in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but unfortunately, the golfer could not make it. That’s why Schauffele’s decision to prioritize his health is undoubtedly the right one, given the long-term implications of playing through a nagging injury. By taking the time to properly recover, Schauffele can ensure that he returns to the course at full strength or as he said at 100%’, is ready to compete at the highest level. While his fans may be disappointed by his absence from upcoming events, they’ll undoubtedly be eager to see Schauffele back in action, swinging freely and contending for titles once again.
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