Article by Staff and Wire Reports of Global Golf Post

Xander Schauffele was a surprise star of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season when he won twice and finished third in the FedEx Cup race. He followed it up a solid 2017-18 season but failed to win, which disappointed him.

He took care of that by picking up his first World Golf Championship victory in dramatic fashion. Trailing Tony Finau through most of the final round, Schauffele holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole then two-putted the par-5 finishing hole for a birdie to force a playoff.

“It was a finish we needed, and it feels good to clutch up when necessary,” Schauffele said.

Finau made a costly mistake in the playoff when he hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker and chose to lay up. Schauffele reached the green in two and again two-putted for birdie, which was enough to beat Finau.

“Definitely feel like I let one get away,” said Finau, who was chasing his second career Tour victory. “Xander played incredible golf today. It was playing tough out there. He posted a number and made birdie on a playoff hole when it counted.”

Schauffele had not played particularly well in the first two events during the Tour’s annual Asia swing but turned it around at Sheshan International Golf Club, where he started the final round three strokes behind Finau.

“I was definitely in sort of an attack mode, and I was hitting good shots all day, making good putts. I was doing everything that I needed to do,” Schauffele said.

“So I felt really good about – just about every part of my game mentally, physically. With a 68, obviously, it was just enough. Obviously Tony played well, as well, but it’s tricky to try and fend off when everyone is chasing you.”

Driver: TaylorMade M3
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-BB 7X

3 Wood: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8X

5 Wood: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (18 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8X

Irons: Callaway Forged Prototype (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 4 (52-10S), Titleist Vokey SM6 (56-10S bent to 57, 60-08M, bent to 61)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: Odyssey O-Works Red #7 CH

Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X

Republished with permission from Global Golf Post