As the PGA Championship looms at Aronimink, all eyes might be on Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, but veteran analyst Johnson Wagner is sounding the alarm on a player who could steal the spotlight: Xander Schauffele.
Wagner believes the 30-year-old American is "flying right under the radar" heading into the year's second major, and he's not just being polite. Despite a mixed season that has seen flashes of brilliance—including four top-10 finishes in his last seven PGA Tour starts—Schauffele has been somewhat overshadowed by his peers.
His victory at last year's Baycurrent Classic had many expecting a sustained challenge to the game's elite, but a recent 60th-place finish at the Truist Championship raised some eyebrows, especially given his stellar record at Quail Hollow, where he'd finished second on his two previous visits.
"I think Xander Schauffele is just sliding right under the radar right now," Wagner said on the Subpar podcast. "We've been talking about who's the third best player in the world. Well, it's Cam Young. You've got to go down the world rankings... Xander is just poised, I think, to go on a run like he did in 2024 when he won those two majors."
Wagner's comparison to Schauffele's major-winning form is no small praise, and he's equally bullish on Cameron Young, who has emerged as a genuine force. Young's recent resume is impressive: wins at The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship, a third-place finish at The Masters, and a near-miss at Quail Hollow. It seems the 29-year-old has finally cleared the hurdle of his first PGA Tour victory and is now knocking on the door of major glory.
"I'm impressed with him," Wagner added. "With as much speed as he has, the ability to dial and hit the soft shots. His short game was unbelievable at Doral, to be able to have every shot in the bag."
For golf fans, the stage is set for a fascinating week. Whether it's the quiet confidence of Schauffele or the explosive rise of Young, one thing is clear: the PGA Championship is shaping up to be a battle of the under-the-radar stars.