Xander Schauffele sends Masters tee shot into patron’s bag in hectic moment

Xander Schauffele had this drive in the bag.

The 32-year-old sent his tee shot on the eighth hole 289 yards — and right into a fan’s bag to the left of the fairway at The Masters.

The bag, seemingly filled with goodies from the Augusta National course, got an extra piece of swag to take home — days after the golfer suggested to reporters that patrons “blow up the merchandise shop, too, just get everything in there.”

The scene drew laughs from the gallery as Schauffele and an official sorted out how to play the ball.

He recovered, sending his second shot 247 yards — 51 out from the pin — and pitching his way onto the green for a two-putt to save par and leaving him at -1 at the halfway point of the opening round after he went for par on the ninth hole.

Thursday’s start marked Schauffele’s ninth Masters, and if his hole-in-what? moment is a sign of any extra luck this time around, he’ll sure take it.

He’s finished in the top 10 in five of the last seven years at Augusta, finishing as high as tied for second in 2019.

Xander Schauffele of the U.S. hits his tee shot on the 3rd hole during the first round. REUTERS

Adding a Masters title to his resume would pair nicely with the 2024 PGA Championship and British Open championships, leaving him an U.S. Open title short of a career grand slam.

He knows what it’ll take to accomplish that goal at the storied course.

“I think speed on the greens is going to be crucial, as always, with them being firm and fast,” he said Monday. “Big accomplishment to keep three-putts off the card. I think that’s always a big goal here at Augusta. Then, positioning.

“If you can really be disciplined, make sure your good shots are great but make sure your bad shots are in the correct spots, that’s how you need to play to be in contention on this property, and I think everyone knows that. The hard part is doing it.”