NEIL AHERN: Xander, welcome to the abrdn Scottish Open. Tell us your opening thoughts on being there for this second Rolex Series Event of the 2021 campaign.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, it's great to be over here. For some reason, I grew up in San Diego, so it's vastly different on this side. But I've always really enjoyed playing golf over here, different style of play obviously and I just look forward to colder weather, windier weather.
It's obviously difficult, like I said, growing up on the West Coast of the United States. I don't know if it's the European blood in me but I do enjoy it.
NEIL AHERN: You've come close at an Open Championship a few years ago and this is your first time coming over and playing the week before in Europe. Can you maybe talk us through your decision to come over here for this week?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Simple, for me. I typically make a trip over just to get acclimated to the time with my family. COVID solved that problem for me. So I figured I would come and play, and I've been close to playing this tournament in years past just before The Open.
So I figured there's no better way to prepare than to play.
NEIL AHERN: And you've had a very strong major season already this year. What are your expectations going into this week and next week? Are you feeling quite comfortable about your game? Are you feeling quite comfortable about acclimatising to the conditions and to the courses?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I think so. It's just getting -- my big focus right now is getting my body and mind on to this time zone and sort of the way I've been playing the last couple days is sort of secondary. I'm just trying to get my mind in the right place and ready for Thursday.
The game is good enough and just got to sort of think my way around the property differently. Obviously parkland golf is not the same, and links-style golf is very different. A lot of the thought process before I even hit a shot is what I'm trying to work on more.
Q. Judging by the left ring on your left hand, the social media post you put out, congratulations are in order so congratulations on the wedding.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yes, thank you.
Q. When was it and is this counting as a honeymoon?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I am here by myself so it's definitely not a honeymoon. No offense to anyone here but I would not choose a place that rains so much to take my honeymoon. But yeah, it's been a long time coming my now wife, we've been together for quite some time and decided to make it public. We're very happy.
Q. When was it?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: It was on the 26th of June.
Q. Had a couple weeks to get used to it?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah.
Q. No regrets obviously. Just looking ahead to this week, I think Collin Morikawa has been posting pictures of the early morning Scottish sunrise with the jet-lag. How is the jet-lag treating you so far?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I've been hanging in there. I just had to wake up my caddie. He's staying with me and he was dozing off on the couch in a robe. We're hanging in and trying to do our best of staying outside as long as possible and just going day-to-day. So far, so good.
Q. It's not a true links but hopefully good preparation for next week?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I've heard a lot of the European folks say it's an American links-style course. Obviously I think the greens are what makes it more of an American-style links. They are very dramatic in undulation and slope, so you might be pushed towards chipping in certain areas versus the traditional putt around the greens.
I think the course is awesome. I think it's fun. I hope it's playing as hard as possible. I've seen in years past that 22-under has won and the last year or last time it was played, Aaron won at 11-under. So I think the weather plays a big part in how difficult it will play.
Q. How are you finding the difference between The European Tour's bubble and possibly slightly easier conditions back in the States? How tough is it to get used to?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, you know, it is different. It's definitely a tight-knit bubble. But for the most part, I brought a few extra books for myself to read, so I've been taking the downtime as a positive. I do have my caddie with me and he's a good friend, and we can just hang out and do what we're not able to normally do on the West Coast or on the PGA TOUR out in the United States.
Q. Nice to hear a professional golfer say he's brought books with him. We talked to Robert MacIntyre and he's on his PlayStation. That's how he gets through it.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, I've done -- that's what I did during quarantine, during the COVID time. Not that it's the wrong thing to do; I'm not much of a reader, but I'm trying to force my way into it.
Q. Neil said at the start you did well at Carnoustie in The Open in 2018. What did you feel suited you that week, and what do you think that can benefit maybe more next week going into The Open?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I think it's just so different for Americans to play overseas, and I think it's sort of that bit of adversity that sort of makes you think outside the box and maybe tap more into your imagination. I think I really enjoy that challenge of trying to think a little bit more, and knowing that playing sort of links-style or very different courses over here in Europe, it almost -- your sort of search for perfection that you can kind of get stuck into on parkland golf sort of disappears for me.
I sort of fall in love with hitting shots and trying to hit different shots versus trying to work on my swing or anything like that. I really enjoy the challenge of sort of thinking outside the box when I play overseas.
Q. You're still a relative newcomer to Scottish golf fans. How would you describe yourself as a player and sort of your personality to Scottish golf fans?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Yeah, on TV, very low-key. I'm not really one to throw up my shoulder fist-pumping or get too angry when I hit a really bad shot. Something I've been working on for quite some time as a young player growing up into a young pro, just trying to have a very flat demeanor.
Obviously the fire burns inside but I won't show too much on the telly. As a person, off property I've been called a goofier-type kid. The people closest to me sort of know how strange I can be, if that's fair, versus my almost different personality out here.
NEIL AHERN: Thank you very much for your time, really appreciate it. Hope you have a great week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports