Xander Schauffele inadvertently (?!) gets the Ryder Cup trash talk flowing

Xander Schauffele appears to be the first U.S. golfer to get the trash talk flowing ahead of the Ryder Cup. 

In comments to Sports Illustrated that might ruffle a few feathers on the European team, the American claimed Team USA 'didn't do anything special' at Whistling Straits two years ago. 

Schauffele was part of Steve Stricker's side that obliterated an ageing European side 19-9. 

That result reduced Rory McIlroy to tears and the Ulsterman opened up on the moment ahead of the BMW PGA Championship. 

As for Schauffele - who went 3-0-1 last time out - he has revealed the WhatsApp group chat is already firing. 

He missed Team USA's recce to Italy earlier in the month owing to a 'family matter', but the rest of the team provided the PGA Tour star 'with a lot of good intel'. 

"It may sound weird, but we didn't do anything special at Whistling Straits," Schauffele told SI, before explaining he 'doesn't care' that no U.S. side has won on European soil in more than 30 years. 

"All the boys who were there are aware of that, and we have quite a few repeat guys on the team. We're not really tainted by that sort of talk."

The repeat guys Schauffele is referring to? Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler were all part of Stricker's side. 

 

 

 

 

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Dustin Johnson went 5-0-0 in Whistling Straits but since his move to LIV Golf he has failed to impress U.S. captain Zach Johnson. 

As far as DJ is concerned, his omission from the team was a direct result from his move to the rival league. 

"If I would have been playing on the PGA Tour I would have made the team," Johnson said. 

As for Schauffele, what were the reports back from Rome? 

Schauffele continued:

In other Ryder Cup news, U.S. vice captain Stewart Cink made this bizarre claim. 

And Jon Rahm offered this brutal response to a reporter when asked about Sergio Garcia's future involvement in the Cup. 

Read more:

• A controversial rule will be in effect at the Ryder Cup! Here's an explainer...
• Six things you need to know about Ryder Cup course Marco Simone
• Ryder Cup 2023: Has Luke Donald picked Europe's best side? We discuss...
• Ryder Cup 2023: Has Zach Johnson picked USA's best side? We discuss...

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