Xander Schauffele's chasing second Olympic gold: 'Two is better than one'
With six American golf stars currently in the top 10 world rankings, the race to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is heating up.
Olympic goal medallist Xander Schauffele is among those at the forefront, currently ranked no.5.
There are only four USA spots up for grabs.
“If you look at our team, the world rankings is a bit of a free-for-all right now for the American side,” Shauffele told SNTV.
“I’m in right now, and I intend on still playing at a very high level, qualifying for Paris and getting back and giving myself a run at it again.
“It’s at the back of my mind right now, but I definitely want to qualify.”
The 30-year-old is eager to repeat his Tokyo 2020 feat in which he topped the podium, saying: “Two [golds] is better than one.”
When asked about the tough road to Paris for U.S. players, Schauffele said:
Yeah, people have asked me sort of, like, You're not exempt for the Olympics? And I was, like, Do you think Michael Phelps was exempt? He had to swim and qualify every single time he made it back to the Olympics, so -- which is even more impressive," he said.
"I think it's, part of the process of competing in the Olympics, is the qualifications period. Much more stress for other sports, I would say, than ours, just because we do have an ongoing season that we can compete in, versus -- it's not like I'm sitting here getting ready for four years and then playing one qualifier and it's like make-or-break type deal or Worlds or doing stuff of that nature to keep my ranking up to qualify. So I have a lot of respect for the other athletes that have to do that.
Results aside, competing at the Olympic Games is very ‘special’ for Xander as he is able to live the dream of his father, Stefan.
“Any time you can represent your country is pretty unique,” she said.
“For me personally, it was more unique with my dad’s history, [him] wanting to be an Olympian and using his teachings when he was trying to qualify himself way back when. It’s more special.
“Any time you can put on the red, white and blue for me is an awesome experience, whether it’s in the team event or in the Olympics or anything.”
Shauffele is on course to qualify for Paris 2024 with his current world ranking, with participants set to be made official on 17 June 2024 for the men's event.