J.J. Spaun has reflected on how the 2025 Ryder Cup influenced his relationship with Xander Schauffele.
The two Americans have crossed paths throughout their careers, sharing similar backgrounds and ambitions.
Advertisement
But competing together on golf’s biggest team stage at Bethpage Black last September added a different dimension.
It was an experience that Spaun says strengthened a bond already built over the years.
J.J. Spaun opens up on how his bond with Xander Schauffele developed
Spaun was asked how sharing an alma mater, major championship success, and Ryder Cup experience had influenced his relationship with Schauffele.
He admitted those shared milestones had a major impact, even though their early careers never truly overlapped.
“It has a lot. We’ve been pretty close throughout our careers, but he was on a completely different trajectory,” Spaun said in his press conference before the Farmers Insurance Open.
Advertisement
“We didn’t overlap during the San Diego State days, so it was really cool to get to know him a lot on the Korn Ferry Tour when we played out there. And then he just took off.”
Spaun explained that once both players earned their PGA Tour cards, Schauffele’s rise was immediate. Despite that, he always felt there was a strong personal connection between them.
“He was off and running when we both got our cards. But I always felt like we had a great connection, great chemistry,” Spaun added.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
“We had a chip on our shoulders growing up, you know, had to kind of prove to everyone that we were kind of good enough to compete.”
Advertisement
That shared mentality shaped how Spaun viewed Schauffele’s success. Rather than creating distance, it became a source of motivation.
“His success really inspired me. He’s a great player, and he’s a great friend, and it’s just so cool to see him succeed,” Spaun continued. “And then he kind of gave that feeling back to me when I was successful last year.”
Spaun also reflected on how those feelings carried over into team competition.
“And it transpired even through the Ryder Cup, we had a really good match Saturday being partners,” he said. “Just experiences that we’ll have for the rest of our lives.”
Advertisement
Why J.J. Spaun and Xander Schauffele’s Ryder Cup pairing stood out
That long-standing connection translated naturally into Ryder Cup competition in 2025.
Spaun and Schauffele were paired together in the Saturday fourballs session against Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka.
The American duo edged out a 1up victory in a tense match that demanded patience and trust.
Their calm approach and understanding of each other’s games proved decisive under pressure.
With chemistry already established on one of golf’s biggest stages, Spaun and Schauffele look like a potential long-term Ryder Cup partnership for the United States.
Read the full article here
