Xander Schauffele’s 3-word response to very large Tour Championship deficit

ATLANTA — Xander Schauffele could have carded a 2-under 68 Saturday at East Lake, however he faces a six-shot deficit to Viktor Hovland heading into the ultimate spherical of the Tour Championship.

“Not ok,” Schauffele stated of his spherical afterward.

“Shoot. I missed two quick putts approaching the fifteenth and the 18th. I lookup on the board, and if I made these two like I usually would, I’d nonetheless — I wouldn’t have gained something on the chief. So not ok.”

Schauffele missed a five-footer for par on the tough par-3 fifteenth after which rammed a four-footer nearly 4 ft previous the outlet on 18.

But, he nonetheless carded an under-par rating on a day when the warmth strangled the sphere at Atlanta.

Photograph by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos

It regarded as if Schauffele would threaten Hovland early on. He made three birdies over his first seven holes and received it to 15-under general.

However a bogey on the powerful par-4 eighth derailed his momentum.

He performed the remainder of his spherical at even-par, ending at 14-under for the championship going into Sunday.

Hovland, in the meantime, is at 20-under after blitzing the sphere with a 4-under 66.

“I do know what I have to do,” Schauffele stated. “I have to exit and try to put as a lot strain on him tomorrow on that entrance 9 as I can and hope for the perfect.”

Schauffele additionally is aware of that the 25-year-old Norwegian phenom is taking part in exceptionally in the intervening time.

“He’s simply taking part in unbelievable golf,” Schauffele stated of Hovland. “He’s been working actually onerous. I noticed him working onerous. I used to be out late, and he was one of many guys I at all times noticed till darkish as nicely. So, no shock.”

Schauffele might be paired with Hovland within the last group Sunday, with the FedEx Cup on the road.

The previous San Diego State Aztec owns East Lake, as he has the perfect profession rating of any participant who has ever performed the course. However which may not matter a lot Sunday, because the deficit could show to be an excessive amount of to beat.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.