Xander Schauffele Details How He Lost Straight Up To Michael Jordan On The Golf Course

Xander Schauffele is the No. 2 ranked player in the world, the owner of an Olympic gold medal, and a major championship winner, but does not have a perfect record against Michael Jordan on the golf course.

Jordan, who at this point in his life has probably spent more time on a golf course than he has on a basketball court, apparently got the best of Schauffele on the links recently. In fact, not only did Jordan beat Schauffele, he beat him straight up on holes he wasn't getting a stroke on.

Speaking with former PGA Tour player turned CBS golf analyst Colt Knost, Schauffele explained what it exactly went down when he teed it up with MJ.

"I pancaked him on his stroke holes, and I started talking sh-t to him, and he got all quiet and focused," Schauffele said. "And then he birdied 15-16, no strokes. Beat me straight up. And I was like, ‘All right.’"

Knost was legitimately shocked by Schauffele's story.

Schauffele enters this week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 a new man. Not only because he recently lost a match to Michael Jordan, but because this will be his first start in a major championship as a major champion himself.

READ: Tiger Woods Is Leaning On His Son, Charlie, For Putting Tips At The U.S. Open

The 30-year-old played a nearly flawless tournament during last month's PGA Championship en route to a record-setting 21-under par winning score to get the best of Bryson DeChambeau by a single shot. 

Schauffele is among the top favorites to win the U.S. Open and understandably so. He enters the week in serious form and has finished 10th or better in six of his seven U.S. Open appearances.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the world of professional golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.