The Open winner Xander Schauffele nearly became professional footballer but quit and took up golf after row with coach

XANDER SCHAUFFELE was a teenage ‘soccer’ sensation before turning to golf — after falling out with his coach over which position to play.

Schauffele stormed over to dad Stefan and said he would be a PGA Tour star instead.

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And after adding Open glory to his USPGA Championship win in May, it looks like the X-man made the right choice.

Stefan recalled his son’s sporting dilemma as he fought back tears watching him raise the Claret Jug aloft at Royal Troon on Sunday.

Schauffele, 30, finished two shots clear of fellow American Billy Horschel and England’s Justin Rose.

Stefan said: “Xander was an excellent soccer player. It was astonishing his talent.

“When he was four he would hit half-volleys, both legs, left and right.

“I thought that he would rescue the American soccer team because, oh my God, they need help.

“But, no, when he was 14, he had been promised by the soccer team he was at that he’d  play attacking midfield. He had always been a sweeper until then.

“The new season came around and the coach — my buddy, a Brazilian guy — runs across the field and says to me, ‘Quick! You have to speak to Xander’.

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“Xander comes trotting in behind saying, ‘I just quit. They lied to me. Now, I’ll get on the PGA Tour’.

“He literally said that, would not change his mind and, from that moment on, golf was his big passion. Now, here we are . . . ”

Stefan, who is German-born, had always encouraged Xander to follow in his footsteps by trying plenty of different sports as a youngster in San Diego.

Schauffele Sr was also a useful footballer but excelled at athletics.

As one of Germany’s best decathletes, he was targeting a spot at the 1988 Olympics.

Yet his hopes were wrecked when a drunk-driver crashed into his car, leaving him with severe eye problems.

He had six operations to improve his vision but it was still far from perfect and he knew he had to abandon his Olympic ambitions.

Stefan, who was Xander’s first golf teacher and still works as his mental coach, made no secret he was living out his dreams through his son when Schauffele was selected by USA for the delayed 2020 Olympics.

It was a special moment when Schauffele won the gold medal — and he will defend his title in Paris.

Xander comes across as a slightly dour, tunnel-visioned golfer who rarely smiles – but Stefan insisted that is not the case.

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The proud dad added: “He’s very emotional. He’s not as boring as you might think.

“Jordan Spieth said it at the Ryder Cup — the fun guy in the team room is Xander.

“But on the golf course, this is business. He’s very disciplined at everything.

“Of course, there’s a bunch of guys like that but, at the end of the day, it’s your level of talent and health that are the determining factor.

“But if he stays fit and healthy he could be the next guy to win all four Majors.

“He’s halfway there now and he’s played well at The Masters and US Open before, so there’s no reason he can’t win them, too.

“You can take a look at  the statistics and see who has the greatest potential of being the next career Grand Slammer — but he’s the one who has the game.

“Of course, I’m a bit biased. But if you look at how well he’s playing, you will arrive at the same conclusion.”

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