Xander Schauffele concluded The Masters with an impressive performance, finishing the tournament at eight-under par at the renowned Augusta National. This notable showing comes after a challenging season, during which the American golfer has been managing a rib injury that has limited his play.
Over four rounds, Schauffele scored 70, 72, 70, and 68, marking his ninth appearance at Augusta and the eighth tournament of the 2026 season. Despite not yet securing a win this year, he expressed optimism about his game after his final round.
In a post-round interview, Schauffele addressed his recent form and injury recovery. "Yeah, I think the way I felt this week, I feel like I played better than what I shot," said Schauffele. "Sometimes that’s how golf goes. You need a few things to go your way, a few lip-out putts to lip in. But for the most part I felt like I controlled my ball and wasn’t in too many weird spots. Just struggled on the greens a little bit overall."
Further reflecting on his recovery, he noted, "I don’t think about injury at all for a good three or four months, which is really nice. It’s nice to be able to focus on playing well and focus on working on my game and getting stronger and things of that nature."
Schauffele wasn’t alone in dealing with injuries at The Masters. Fellow competitors like Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa have also faced similar setbacks. Schauffele empathized with Morikawa's situation, remarking, "Yeah, sort of non-contact, just making a swing, that’s as scary as it gets because we swing for a living."
Despite their physical struggles, both players rose to the occasion at Augusta. Schauffele acknowledged Morikawa’s impressive showing at nine-under, stating, "I just saw him at 9-under, so clearly he’s found something."
Looking ahead, Schauffele shared his ambitions, mentioning, "Yeah, definitely just use this. This is a really tough property. The course is really tricky. If you’re playing good golf around here or at least top-tenning around here, you know you’re playing pretty good golf."
As the tournament unfolded, players like Schauffele and Morikawa proved that dedication and perseverance can yield positive outcomes even amidst challenges. McIlroy led the charge at The Masters trying to defend his title, while Schauffele and Morikawa found themselves comfortably within the top ten. Their performances earned them significant praise as they navigated the competitive landscape of professional golf.
In summary, Schauffele's resilience and skill shine through as he contemplates his recent play and prepares for the upcoming challenges of the season. As the tour continues, fans will watch closely to see if Schauffele can translate his solid performances at Augusta into a tour victory soon.
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*Originally published on [golfnews.global](https://golfnews.global/article/xander-schauffele-reflects-on-masters-performance-amid-recovery).*
