Feb. 20, 2026, 7:15 p.m. ET
Schauffele’s 72-event streak of making the cut ended at the Farmers Insurance Open.He shot 68-65 in the first two rounds at Riviera, placing him near the top of the leaderboard.Despite feeling tired and not entirely comfortable with his swing, Schauffele has performed well.
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Two letters appeared next to Xander Schauffele’s name on the leaderboard after the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open that hadn’t been there in a long, long time: MC.
The 10-time PGA Tour winner, two-time major winner and gold medalist from the 2020 Olympics missed the cut for the first time since he failed to qualify for the weekend at the 2022 Masters. For 72 consecutive events, Schauffele had earned a check, but in La Jolla at his hometown event, that streak broke.
A T-41 at the WM Phoenix Open followed, then a T-19 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. For a player of Schauffele’s caliber, those results are, as the kids would say, “mid.”
But after shooting 68-65 in the first two rounds of the Genesis Invitational, Schauffele is heading into the weekend in a more familiar place: contention.
Friday at Riviera wasn’t pristine, and it wasn’t a flag-hunting exhibition. It was a methodical journey around one of the most high-regarded courses on the PGA Tour.
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Schauffele began the day on the 11th hole after his opening round was suspended due to darkness Thursday evening. Birdies at 12, 13, 15 and 17 helped Schauffele methodically work his way up the leaderboard.
After a quick break, Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Si Woo Kim returned to the first tee to begin the second round, and for the second straight day, Schauffele eagled the 495-yard, par-5 first hole. Four birdies over his next 10 holes, including back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11, pushed his score to 9 under. After a bogey at 15, he steadied himself and added a birdie at 17 to finish the day at 9 under and tied for third.
“I’m tired, man,” Schauffele said after completing 27 holes Friday following Thursday’s weather delay. “It was nice to put some good golf and some holes together, but definitely on the tired side.”
The fatigue is understandable. Riviera in calm conditions demands discipline and concentration. Riviera after heavy rain, with poa annua greens that are both spongy and quick, asks for total commitment.
“Usually, you’re trying to play up to certain holes,” Schauffele said. “Now, out of the rough you’re like, ‘Oh, this is a jumper, it might fly the pin,’ and you’re like that’s actually pretty good because it’s going to plug.”
Schauffele gained more than 4 strokes on the field from tee to green in the second round, hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation and needed just 27 putts. Through 36 holes, he has made 175 feet of putts, a reminder that when the putter cooperates, everything looks a little more manageable.
The 68-65 start is a good sign that Schauffele’s game may be rounding back into form, but what might be most encouraging is that he did it without feeling entirely in sync.
“I wouldn’t say I felt extremely comfortable either yesterday or today, but able to make some putts and kind of get some things going,” he said. “It’s nice to sort of put a run together when you’re not feeling amazing.”
That’s what separates good weeks from serious ones. When the swing feels perfect, plenty of players can shoot 65. When it doesn’t, and you still climb the leaderboard, that’s when a tournament starts to tilt your way.
Schauffele insists the number 13 next to his name in the world ranking is “just a number.” But after a stretch last season that didn’t meet his own standards, this feels like a quiet recalibration. Not a comeback. Just a reminder.
The conditions are likely to firm up over the weekend. Riviera will look a little less damp, a little less spongy and more like the version that punishes anything slightly offline. Schauffele doesn’t sound particularly concerned about when or how the course plays. He just wants to compete here.
Through 36 holes, once again, he is.
