The Masters Tournament has witnessed some remarkable comebacks through the years. None more dramatic than Tiger Woods‘ historic return to Augusta National in 2022, just 14 months after a devastating car accident nearly cost him his right leg. After multiple surgeries and an excruciating recovery process, Woods not only played but also made the cut for a record 24th consecutive time, showcasing extraordinary resilience on golf’s most demanding stage.
Such recovery stories resonate deeply in the golf world, where physical setbacks can derail careers or, at minimum, disrupt crucial preparation phases for major championships. Even current World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler faced his own challenge with a freak hand injury earlier this season, working diligently with medical staff to ensure he’d be ready for Masters title defense.
Recently, World No. 3 Xander Schauffele, too, opened up about his health status on The Rich Eisen Show, offering a cautiously optimistic five-word assessment that has fans buzzing about his Masters prospects. “I’m feeling okay, healthy again,” Schauffele revealed, finally putting to rest concerns about the intercostal strain that sidelined him since late December. The rib cage injury, which he first noticed just before Christmas 2024, proved more challenging than initially expected.
Xander Schauffele’s recovery journey from surprising rib injury
The injury originated during an unfortunate period when Schauffele’s regular trainer left the country to renew his visa in mid-December 2024. This critical absence of professional guidance came during what should have been routine off-season conditioning but instead became the catalyst for Schauffele’s first significant career injury.
“I was left on my own and apparently I’m still a toddler,” Schauffele admitted candidly in a Golf.com interview, referencing his inability to properly manage his training without supervision. “I kept training and golfing and training and golfing, and I’m used to having someone either hold my hand or do something as simple as soft tissue. I didn’t get any help and I think that is sort of what put my back against the wall.”
The two-time major champion’s self-deprecating humor masked a serious situation. Without his trainer’s expertise to provide proper soft tissue work and exercise modifications, Schauffele overworked his intercostal muscles, creating a painful strain that would sideline him for nearly two months during a crucial part of the PGA Tour schedule.
What made this injury particularly frustrating was its unpredictable nature. The pain would strike suddenly during simple movements like reaching for his phone or sneezing. After attempting to play through discomfort at January’s Sentry tournament, Schauffele finally accepted the need for proper rehabilitation.
Sep 22, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Team USA golfer Xander Schauffele hits his tee shot on the eighth tee during the foursomes match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
The recovery process focused on patience rather than quick intervention. Medical scans eventually showed “clean” results by early March, clearing him to return to competition after missing several events, including tournaments at his hometown Torrey Pines course.
“Health was the number one priority,” Schauffele emphasized on Eisen’s show. “Now I’m just trying to get into like, you know, back to some decent playing form to where I’m confident and not thinking so much golf swing and just thinking about getting the ball in the hole.”
With his health concerns finally behind him, attention now turns to whether Schauffele can recapture his pre-injury brilliance in time for the season’s first major.
Recent performances show glimpses of pre-injury form
Since returning to action, Schauffele has completed three tournaments with gradually improving results. His comeback began at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he finished tied for 40th while extending his PGA Tour made-cut streak to 58 consecutive events.
After a disappointing 72nd place at THE PLAYERS Championship, Schauffele showed significant improvement at the Valspar Championship. His tie for 6th included career-best approach statistics, and he gained over 11 strokes with his iron play—a critical skill for Augusta National.
“Didn’t play great, had a few glimpses of hope,” Schauffele acknowledged about his post-injury tournaments. These “glimpses” have become increasingly frequent, suggesting he’s regaining the form that powered him to multiple victories before the setback.
Despite his ongoing recovery process, Augusta National might be the perfect venue for Schauffele’s continued comeback. His Masters’ record shows remarkable consistency with three top-10 finishes in six appearances, including a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods in 2019.
With Augusta National favoring his balanced skill set, particularly his precise iron play that’s now returning to elite levels, Schauffele’s health update couldn’t come at a better time. Is this the year he adds a green jacket to his growing collection of championships? The golf world will be watching closely when play begins on April 10th.
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