Xander Schauffele nearly had Ryder spot revoked over contract dispute, dad says - ESPN

Xander Schauffele, an automatic qualifier for the United States team at the 2023 Ryder Cup, could have been removed from the squad in a contract dispute, his father told the Times of London.

The golfer wanted to make three amendments to the player participation and benefit agreement but was threatened by the PGA of America to sign by the September deadline or be pulled from the team, Stefan Schauffele told the paper in a story Monday.

«The PGA of America were not willing to even talk to us about [the three amendments],» Stefan Schauffele told The Times. «It was very late in the schedule right before the team came [to Rome] to practice because they had moved the deadline and they said, 'If you don't sign it by then, you're off the team,' but they never gave us the contact information of their legal counsel.

»Saturday morning of Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2), finally, the head of the PGA of America got wind of this, because it was not him that was blocking it, and put our lawyers in contact with the PGA of America's general counsel, and then it took a few hours to hash it out and it was fine. Then I received a message that Xander was back on the team. That you can quote. That's the extent of this and I think it's shameful."

Xander Schauffele and the Americans lost to Team Europe 16 1/2-11 1/2 on Sunday at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club outside Rome. Europe has claimed eight of the last 11 Ryder Cups, as the U.S. team failed to end a road drought that dates to 1993.

The PGA of America, which runs the Ryder Cup in conjunction with Ryder Cup Europe, declined to comment to The Times and had not immediately replied to other media outlets' inquiries.

The Americans had an awful start to the competition, and the emotionally