Xander Schauffele Admits Being ‘Sick in the Head’ as He Breaks Silence on Chris Como’s Role in His Game

The split between Xander Schauffele and his long-time coach, his father, wasn’t a quick decision. It was inevitable, so to speak. Yes, Stefan Schauffele started coaching Xander in his early teens. Yes, he was also the one behind Xander’s scholarship to Long Beach State. But, as time passed by, Stefan realized he was “inadequate” and that his son needed someone even better.

Although it happened some time ago, the 31-year-old still talks fondly about these immense shifts in his life. In fact, during the October 21 episode of ALTUS PERFORMANCE, the American said of his father, “He is 60 now,” but “he still helps me. He still has a couple of hats on, Dad being one of them.” But when Stefan realized he couldn’t keep up with the requirements of Xander, he suggested Chris Como, the man behind players like Tiger Woods.

And Como took his duty very seriously. “He [Chris] was just trying to get inside my mind without even asking questions.” In fact, whenever the pro had a concern, “I brought to him, and um, he addressed it right away.” This built trust between them, a feature that you can bet has helped plenty of pairs. Even Xander. And it was also partially thanks to Como, who was pretty “invasive” when it came to tackling the issues Schauffele had. Like, for instance, his draw shots.

And Como’s “invasive” nature was pretty compatible with Schauffele’s determination. “I can be kind of sick in the head where I will just fully commit to something,” Xander admits in the interview. Regardless, Como and Schauffele first met some twelve or thirteen years ago, but started working together only in late 2023. He still had the tag of being one of the “best players to have never won a major” on him.

Como changed that. The following year, Xander Schauffele won his first two majors, the PGA Championship and The Open. Add to that 15 top 10s and 3 runner-up finishes in 2024. In fact, with Como’s involvement, Schauffele increased his driving accuracy from 58% to 62% (2024) and now 55.58%. So yes, the sudden shift from his long-time coach to Como might have seemed “scary” in the beginning, but it certainly worked in Schauffele’s favor.

Perhaps that’s why Schauffele has often talked about it. Just last year, after winning the PGA Championship, Schauffele said, “Now that I’m working with Chris, [my dad] feels like he can kind of take his hands off the wheel. He trusts him a lot; I trust him a lot.” Even Stefan believed that Como “changed a teeny thing and he found answers that Xander and I together couldn’t come up with.” And that was all Schauffele needed. Nonetheless, Stefan might be absent from Schauffele’s bag right now, but he has certainly found a purpose for himself.

Stefan Schauffele outside Xander Schauffele’s golf game

Stefan Schauffele’s life took a dramatic turn when his son Xander Schauffele’s golf career took off. With his long-term purpose now fulfilled, Stefan set his sights on a new goal: creating a family compound in Kauai, a haven where the Schauffeles can unwind, recharge, and connect. To oversee the project, Stefan lived in a 20-foot shipping container on the rural hillside for 18 months, sans toilet, hot water, and electricity.

And it worked out well for the Schauffeles, in fact. Xander, too, is supportive of his father’s decision, saying, “I just want him to be happy. He wants to kick back and enjoy the latter half of his life.” Just last week, when Schauffele won his first season title at the 2025 Baycurrent Classic, he did so in front of his entire family. In Japan.

But just because Stefan has taken a backseat doesn’t mean he has completely let go of Schauffele’s future in golf. In fact, in May, he confessed, “If he masters enough, then he will fulfill his promise. And then that will help me fulfill my promise. The promise that I made to him, that I will do anything and everything for him to be able to find out how good he is, that promise is fulfilled. And I’m very proud of that.” Now, that’s something that even Chris Como feels. Probably just as much.