Xander Schauffele’s decision to fire his father eventually ended up with both of them in tears. How might you wonder? Well, the 2024 PGA Championship saw Schauffele take the biggest decision of his career, parting ways with his dad, Stefan, who had been his coach for years, to work with renowned swing coach Chris Como. The move allowed Schauffele to maximize his game by adding speed and improving swing positions. For the longest time, everyone thought that there may be some family discrepancies for Schauffele to make that decision, but now the golfer has shed light on what was the real reason behind it.
Speaking on the recent YouTube episode of Callaway Golf with host Roger Steele, Schauffele shed light on the actual reason behind firing his dad as his coach ahead of the PGA Championship. According to Schauffele, it wasn’t a matter of completely cutting ties but rather shifting roles. “He’s my dad, he’s always going to be in the bubble…. he’s in the main bubble,” Schauffele explained, highlighting the evolving dynamic between him and his father.
He jokingly described his dad’s persistent presence in his career, saying, “As much as I try and kick him out, he just bounces off the wall, comes right back into the middle.” Well, the split paid off at the end. After Schauffele won the PGA Championship last year, he received a text from his father, Stefan, which read “Steter tropfen höhlt den stein,” a German proverb meaning “a constant drip wears away the stone,” symbolizing the steady progress Xander had made, allowing him to break through and achieve his goal, with the help of his new coach Chris Como, who worked with him to maximize his game.
Schauffele further elaborated that the decision to bring in new swing coach Chris Como was a culmination of various factors. “It was a combination of, I guess, culmination of a lot of things,” Schauffele said. He had known Como for over 10 years and appreciated his coaching style, which made the transition relatively smooth. Schauffele’s father also supported the decision, suggesting Como’s name and acknowledging it was time for a change.
“Now that I’m working with Chris, [my dad] feels like he can kind of take his hands off the wheel,” Schauffele said, highlighting the confidence his father Stefan has in Como. Stefan’s trust stems from Como’s ability to identify and address issues that they couldn’t resolve together, notably hyperflexibility and a distinctive release pattern in Schauffele’s swing. As Stefan noted, “Chris changed a teeny thing and he found answers that Xander and I together couldn’t come up with,” and “Chris had the answer right away” when they were stuck in a cycle of trial and error.
Credits: Xander Schauffele, Instagram
“My dad was just hoping he can coach me to the end of time… but we knew… we were surprised we made it this far,” Schauffele revealed, showcasing the mutual understanding that led to the coaching shift. Well, it is indeed uncommon for father-son duos in golf to transition from family coaching to external expertise for longer than the initial years, and that’s the reason Stefan Schuaffele is anything but salty over the shift.
Stefan Schauffele has found his ‘purpose’ after his son fired him
Stefan Schauffele’s life has come full circle. The father of PGA champion Xander Schauffele thought he was done playing a key role in his son’s golf career when he decided to step back. Stefan felt he was “inadequate” as Xander’s instructor to reach the pinnacle of the sport. “I knew I had to leave. I had to leave to hand this over fully to make that team fly,” Stefan said, explaining why he handed over the reins to renowned swing coach Chris Como. This decision proved to be a masterstroke, as Xander went on to win the PGA Championship. Stefan wasn’t even watching the front nine, but when his son called him after the win, he was overwhelmed with emotion. “I couldn’t even talk – it was that overwhelming… The moment he wins, and the observation is over, I’m dead. Then it overcomes me,” Stefan said.
These days, Stefan’s focus is on building a 22-acre family compound in Kauai, Hawaii, where he can unwind and recharge with his loved ones. “I’m creating a space for the family to get together in the old-school, European style. That’s my goal now. My purpose,” Stefan said, his eyes welling up with tears as he gazed out at the sunset on his land. Xander recently visited the property and shared a moment with his father, saying “Well, I now understand you.” Stefan smiled, knowing his son grasped the depth of his plan. “You live and you die and you just want to enjoy – that’s kind of how I look at it in my life,” Xander said, summing up his father’s philosophy.
“Enjoy what you can with certain people, because not a lot of the other stuff matters. So if he’s happy and I’m happy, then my whole family is happy.” And indeed it is. Well, what do you think about the Schauffele family? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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