By E Michael Johnson
Even before Xander Schauffele played the Genesis Scottish Open he was one of the favorites to capture the Claret Jug at the Old Course at St Andrews. Now, after winning on Sunday, expect more and more backers coming his way for the Open Championship.

Much like his win at his last PGA Tour start at the Travelers Championship, Schauffele made things more difficult than they needed to be. Seemingly in control of the tournament with a four-shot lead after opening with back-to-back birdies to begin his final round, Schauffle sputtered with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch, allowing Kurt Katayama to grab the lead and a host of others to get close enough to sniff it.

Schauffele, however, steadied himself, making four straight pars to start the final nine before striking a pitching wedge from 157 yards on the par-3 14th to 15 feet then dropping the putt to re-take a one-shot advantage over Katayama, who had finished at six-under. A two-putt birdie on the par-5 16th extended the cushion, a stroke that allowed for a safe-play bogey to win on 18.

A power-precision combination served Schauffele well at the Renaissance Club in winning his seventh PGA Tour title. Despite having some accuracy issues, Schauffele averaged 310.4 yards off the tee with his 10.5-degree Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond driver with a Mitsubishi Kai’li White 70 TX shaft.

That driver features a more compact head (450cc) that appeals to better players. A very low center of gravity produces extremely low spin and a flatter flight.

Into the greens Schauffele ranked T-6 in greens in regulation, hitting 51 of 72 greens with his Callaway Apex TCB irons with Nippon Modus Tour 130X shafts and Golf Pride ZGrip Cord grips. In all Schauffele made 17 birdies to rank third in the field.

That’s the kind of production that wins claret jugs — or at least makes you a favorite to win one.

What Xander Schauffele had in the bag at the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond (Mitsubishi Kai’li White 70 TX), 10.5 degrees
3-wood: Callaway Epic Speed, 15 degrees
Irons (3): Mizuno MP-20 HMB; (4-PW): Callaway Apex TCB
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52 degrees); Titleist Vokey SM6 (56 degrees): Titleist Vokey SM9 WedgeWorks (60 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey O-Works Red 7 CH

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