Prior to the Ryder Cup, we had mentioned that the U.S. team had voted unanimously to keep the crew of Netflix’s “Full Swing” out of the team room at last week’s tournament. Apparently, that was a bigger story than was reported at the time—and nearly led to one automatic qualifier not being a part of the team.
Stefan Schauffele, father of Xander Schauffele, told The Times of London that his son nearly had his invitation pulled over concerns with the contract he had to sign with the PGA of America to take part in the tournament.
The elder Schauffele, who is Xander’s swing coach and also handles his business affairs, said that there were two issues that were being discussed with the PGA of America right up to a contract deadline in early September.
I spoke to Stefan Schauffele about money and the Ryder Cup: https://t.co/QDHoWhF1qo
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) October 3, 2023
Stefan Schauffele told The Times:
“The PGA of America were not willing to even talk to us about [our concerns]. It was very late in the schedule right before the team came [to Rome] to practice because they had moved the deadline, and they said, ‘If you don’t sign it by then, you’re off the team,’ but they never gave us the contact information of their legal counsel. Saturday morning of Labor Day weekend, finally, the head of the PGA of America got wind of this, because it was not him that was blocking it, and put our lawyers in contact with the PGA of America’s general counsel, and then it took a few hours to hash it out, and it was fine. Then I received a message that Xander was back on the team. That you can quote. That’s the extent of this, and I think it’s shameful.”
A few weeks ago, the U.S. team went to Italy for two practice rounds at Marco Simone Golf Club; Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay were two of the three, along with Jordan Spieth, who didn’t make the trip.
Xander Schauffele defeats Nicolai Hojgaard as @RyderCupUSA cuts Europe’s lead to 4 with 4 matches remaining.
: @NBC and @peacock | #RyderCuppic.twitter.com/0h3RSq09yo
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 1, 2023
One issue was over the access that Netflix’s crews would have while collecting footage for the second season of “Full Swing.” The second was reportedly over the fact that Ryder Cup players aren’t paid. The PGA of America donates $200,000 to a charity of the player’s choosing. There were reports over the weekend that Cantlay also took issue with the money distribution.
On Saturday, it was revealed that Schauffele’s father espoused to a member of the media that Cantlay wasn’t wearing a Team USA hat in protest of the money issue. He denied that was the case, while Xander Schauffele jokingly said that he apologized for anything his father said.
Cover Image via NY Post
