Xander Schauffele says Rory McIlroy is under more of a microscope

Xander Schauffele can sympathize with Rory McIlroy’s decision to withdraw from this week’s Travelers Championship and take a break after crashing out at the US Open.

McIlroy missed two short putts over the final three holes Sunday and finished 1 stroke behind Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst No.

“As a competitor, we’ve all been at a certain level. It’s tough,” said Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship in May, when asked about McIlroy. “I’m sure he and his team are talking about what happened, and sometimes you just need to leave everything and try and be as objective as possible, because you’re in that moment and obviously it didn’t happen.” go his way and you just know, he needs some time to figure out what’s going on.”

McIlroy’s 10-year drought will last until at least the Open Championship in July. He admitted that Monday and Sunday were “probably the hardest day” of his professional career but vowed to show resilience when he returns to the Scottish Open followed by The Open at Royal Troon.

“It’s different for everyone. It’s hard for me to compare my loss to his loss,” Schauffele said. “I would say his, he’s under a microscope. When things go well for him, people flock to him. And, unfortunately, when things don’t go your way, people flock to him.

“So, there’s a microscope on him as to why he didn’t win and things like that. And he’s going to have to answer those questions at some point, and he’s going to answer them, because he always does. So, for me, I wear. ‘tough, but sometimes it’s good to just get on the horse again compete.”

Schauffele is tied for seventh at the US Open — the seventh top-10 in the last eight starts for the world No. 3 entering the final signature event of the year.

Schauffele also earned one of four spots on Team USA at the Paris Olympics, where she will defend her gold medal in August.

“It’s very special,” Schauffele said. “It’s always an honor to represent your country in any tournament or event, so it was really nice to be able to share it with my family after winning the gold medal, and to win the gold medal was my first goal this year. It’s a very difficult team to get into, as you all saw on this side of the US.”