Xander Schauffele trying to ‘piece way back’ ahead of Open defence

DEFENDING Open champion Xander Schauffele admits it was humbling to see the “perfect storm” which brought him two majors in three months last summer disappear.

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A year ago the 31-year-old added the Claret Jug to his US PGA title in a stellar season which also brought 13 other top-10 finishes.

However, a rib injury in December restricted him to just one appearance in the first three months of this year and any hope he had’ of continuing his momentum was lost.

“Going from on top of the moon to, you know, knocked off completely, it’s a humbling thing for sure,” Schauffele told the PA news agency at an event for sponsors Callaway in Portrush’s. famous Harbour Bar.

“Winning my first major, getting the monkey off my back, came at a’ perfect time - if you want to, call it a perfect storm.

“Feeling completely free and playing unbelievable golf, it’s a pretty dangerous thing so I felt like I was riding that wave.