Fred Couples’ Hunch Helped Build Schauffele and Cantlay’s Winning Partnership

One of the earliest occasions Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay spent meaningful time together came during a competitive game of gin rummy on the way to the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia. The U.S. team’s 26-hour charter from the Bahamas to Melbourne gave the rookies ample opportunity to connect, and their rivalry over sets, runs and money quickly forged a bond.

U.S. team vice-captain Fred Couples noticed the chemistry between Schauffele and Cantlay and immediately saw the potential for a formidable partnership.

“Freddy [was] like, ‘Hey, I think these two guys would be unbelievable together,’” Schauffele said Wednesday at the 2024 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago. “The way they play, they almost turn into one person when they’re playing alternate shot, which is all you can sort of ask for. And then just the way we interact. Holding each other accountable, but knowing that each of us are trying our absolute hardest on every shot. Just having each other’s back. Freddy sort of orchestrated that, and he was right.”

The pairing has delivered results. Schauffele and Cantlay competed in four Presidents Cup matches in Melbourne, splitting them 2-2. They teamed up twice at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and won both, including a dominant 5-and-3 foursomes victory over Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter.

Together, the pair has played nine Presidents Cup matches, going 4-1 in foursomes and 1-3 in fourballs, as well as six Ryder Cup matches with a 3-3 record in foursomes. Across both events, they are 7-4 in foursomes, 1-3 in fourballs and 8-7 overall.

“Freddy Couples is actually the one who kind of made that happen,” Schauffele said. “I don’t know if anyone has ever really stated that. Yeah, PC and I both love Fred.”

Cantlay, who has known Couples for years through the golf community in Newport Beach, California, supported Schauffele’s account. The two became close friends after their four-match stretch together in Melbourne.

Their combined record shows that Schauffele and Cantlay are far from unbeatable. Fourball has been their least successful format, though Schauffele attributes that more to their limited number of starts together than to any lack of compatibility. He pointed to the 2022 Zurich Classic, when the pair opened with a four-ball score of 59. Schauffele recorded six birdies, while Cantlay added five birdies and an eagle.

“If we played 100 fourball rounds, who knows what our record would be?” Schauffele said.

Team analysts may use SG: Kinship to evaluate pairing options, but Schauffele said the figure offers only part of the picture. In fourball, where each competitor plays his own ball, chemistry does not necessarily create the ideal matchup.

“Even though we’re friends, there’s better matchups to sort of complement the holes that we have in our games,” he said.

At the 2024 Presidents Cup, Schauffele won two fourball matches with Tony Finau, while Cantlay paired successfully with Sam Burns. In the opening fourball match on Thursday at Medinah, Schauffele will play with Cameron Young, and Cantlay will partner with Chris Gotterup.

“I think there’s a lot of guys that pair up well together,” Cantlay said Wednesday. “The captains are looking at stats, among some other factors, so I think we’re a good alt-shot team and we’ve had our successes, so it’s always comfortable to have that pairing. I don’t think I played alt-shot in one of these events with anybody else.”

Their most memorable foursomes match came in Montreal two years ago, when Cantlay and Schauffele engaged in a gripping contest against Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim. A weather delay pushed the match into near-darkness, with golf carts illuminating the 18th green as Cantlay faced a 17-footer for the victory.

“I always tell PC if it’s getting dark at home and we’re going to finish somewhere close to dark, the match is off,” Schauffele said Wednesday. “I don’t like playing Pat when it gets kind of dark. He has a knack for making these putts in the dark in these team events.”

Cantlay dropped the putt, extending the United States’ lead to 11-7. His teammates celebrated, and the U.S. never looked back on its way to an 18.5-11.5 series victory.

Somewhere, Fred Couples was smiling.

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