Xander Schauffele really struggled throughout the 2025 PGA Tour season after sustaining an injury at the start of the year.

Schauffele’s win at the Baycurrent Classic in October glossed over what was a really poor seven months by his standards.

The 32-year-old was exceptional in 2024, and his brilliant form saw him win two major championships.

However, after suffering a small cartilage tear and an intercostal strain, Schauffele only managed to play one PGA Tour event before March in 2025.

And he wasn’t able to rediscover his best form after that.

Schauffele worked hard on his swing ahead of the 2026 PGA Tour season, and he has shown signs this year that he is close to returning to his best form.

It’s nigh on impossible to come back after an injury and play your best golf immediately.

Why Xander Schauffele was told to skip two of the PGA Tour’s biggest tournaments

The 32-year-old finished third last week at The Players Championship – a vast improvement on his 72nd placed finish at TPC Sawgrass in 2025.

Schauffele was asked what was different about this year at Sawgrass.

And he answered by suggesting that he was actually told not to compete at The Players last year, presumably by his management and fitness teams.

“Yeah, it was really confidence boosting (his third place finish),“ Schauffele admitted.

“I was definitely coming back from injury. I was told not to play Bay Hill and PLAYERS as my first two coming back, two really hard, just two really hard courses, two really hard cuts to make.

“Just two sort of punch-you-in-the-face courses after taking some time off, so definitely not a great place to gain confidence. And this one can bite you too. It’s not like this is an easy track. Like I said, we have seen winners in single digits up to low teens kind of win this tournament.

“So just was able to start hitting my irons really good last year is what I remember. Just started hitting a lot of really quality approach shots.

“Didn’t play really well off the tee, but sort of managed around the property and was able to take advantage of a good Sunday is what I remember.“

Schauffele certainly looks a different player already in 2026 than he did in 2025.

And who would bet against him winning one or two of the big tournaments this year?

What Xander Schauffele has found the hardest since returning from injury

The 32-year-old from San Diego, California, was asked by reporters what has been the hardest part of his game to get back.

“Probably my brain,“ Schauffele admitted.

“Yeah. Besides the actual rib itself or that sort of intercostal area, my brain. You have doubts and certain things creep in, and you definitely take good health for granted when you have it, when you’re kind of running around as a kid.

“So now that I’m old and dusty and, you know, things kind of come at you fast. I think it took me a little while to get my feet under me and sort of get that confidence back to compete.“

The more Schauffele competes near the top of the leaderboards on the PGA Tour, the more comfortable he will feel once again mentally.

The American will undoubtedly fancy his chances of doing just that at the Copperhead Course this week in the Valspar Championship.