[PHOTO: Vaughn Ridley]

Ask American players who the clubhouse clown is and the common response is, “Xander Schauffele,” and with good reason: the man is witty, possesses incredible comedic timing and isn’t afraid to run his mouth. However, it’s unclear if Schauffele was joking on Wednesday in Canada when asked about the plight of Adam Scott.

Scott has been a Presidents Cup stalwart, making his 11th appearance for the Internationals. Unfortunately for the former Masters champion, he’s yet to be a part of a winning team. Scott is one of the more respected players in the sport by his colleagues, which is why it’s fair to wonder if his American competitors feel bad about his fate during the biennial event.

But when asked the question ahead of Thursday’s opening sessions at Royal Montreal, Schauffele’s response appeared absent of sympathy.

“I absolutely do not feel bad for Adam Scott,” Schauffele said. “I like Adam Scott a lot, but I do not feel bad for him at all. I don’t think any male out there feels bad for Adam Scott. I mean, no.”

Which, fair point. After all, even in his mid-40s, Scott continues to be the epitome of male handsomeness:

That Scott can likewise be that good at golf is a special sort of cosmic injustice.

For his part, Schauffele explained why he’s showing Scott no love.

“For me, I’m stubborn, and the more I get knocked down, the harder I push back up,” Schauffele continued. “If I had lost 10 times in a row, I’d come back champing at the bit even harder than ever. I’m sure that’s what they’re doing.”

That could explain why Schauffele enjoyed a career breakthrough after a number of heartaches early in 2024. But frankly, it’s about time someone held Scott accountable for the gift God gave him.