Xander Schauffele played alongside Rickie Fowler during the third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink after he earned the title in 2024
18:57 ET, 16 May 2026Updated 18:57 ET, 16 May 2026
Schauffele played alongside Rickie Fowler during the third round(Image: Getty Images)
Xander Schauffele declared it was “awesome” to play alongside Rickie Fowler during the third round of the PGA Championship as he carded an impressive round of 4-under.
The American, who won this major in 2024, bounced back from a 73 on Friday to put himself right in the mix in what is a very bunched leaderboard at Aronimink. He now sits at 3-under for the major and just two shots behind leader Alex Smalley. He achieved this alongside Fowler, who is 1-under for the major.
“I mean, on Saturday you’re just chasing,” said Schauffele. “It was awesome playing Rickie. He plays really fast and very positive. Just gotten to know him a little bit better in Jupiter, so incredible pairing there on a Saturday.
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“He played great, too, didn’t make a bogey. So it was nice playing with a guy who made two birdies and all pars is usually a nice thing to watch. So all good here on a Saturday. Yeah, definitely, nice to be back in touch in a major.”
Discussing his round overall, Schauffele felt positive heading into the final round.
“Played way better, yeah,” said Schauffele. “Hit better tee shots, hit better iron shots. The putter kind of kept me in it yesterday and the first day, so really leaned on the flat stick to keep me alive, I’d say.
“It was just sort of nice to attach some better shots so I could have some more looks at birdie versus par.”
Schauffele won the PGA Championship in 2024
With the first two rounds being incredibly difficult, the World No. 11 said the better test is the mindset.
“You know, it’s tricky,” said Schauffele. “I think tricky or quirky could be the correct word. I mean, man, some of those pin locations are pretty gnarly. I really hope they don’t put them there for the members on any day, because, whew, that’s — it’s a grind.
“I think discipline was the biggest thing I could think of the first two days. I mean, you have a wedge in your hand, and you’re like I’ve got to hit this to 50 feet or 40 feet, or I can make a 6 or the quickest 5 ever.”
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Schauffele also agreed with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy that the pin locations during the first two rounds were difficult.
“I thought the pin locations the first two days were pretty diabolical,” said Schauffele.
“Last night I actually thought I wasn’t playing very hard at all. I was just playing really bad golf. Happy to sort of make a birdie there and kind of limp in in that fashion. So it was nice to hit more quality crisp shots today and make some birdies.”
