Well Played
Xander Schauffele discussing the definition of a 'bender' is the reporter-player exchange of the season
Steph Chambers
Jon Rahm proved he's human on Friday with a 76 at Bay Hill—albeit under difficult conditions. The Spaniard's shocking score certainly made the weekend at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational a lot more interesting. It also inadvertently led to possibly the best player-reporter exhange of the golf season.
Following the round, Xander Schauffele, who spent the first two days playing alongside Rahm, was asked about the World No. 1's off day. Only, he couldn't help point out an off word in the question. Here's a look at the funny exchange in which the definition of the term "bender" is discussed.
Q. When you -- obviously it was tough condition day out here, but Jon has been on such a bender for a long time, how jarring --
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: A bender?
Q. Well just --
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I think your version and my version of a bender are different.
Q. Actually, mine is the same as yours.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Okay, got it.
Q. But if I was playing that well I would be on a bender.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I was going to say, I think he's sober while he's winning all these tournaments. If he was drunk then that would be unbelievable.
Q. Is heater a better word?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Heater, there you go, yeah.
Q. But if I was on that much of a heater, I would be on a bender as well, I suppose.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Touche.
Great points by Xander. Rahm winning five of nine tournaments is a heater. Rahm winning five of nine tournaments while being on an actual bender would be the greatest sports accomplishment of all time. And we know Schauffele knows what a bender is because he was Presidents Cup teammates with Kevin Kisner.
Anyway, whoever winds up winning this week's $3.6 million first-place check will probably be doing plenty of celebrating. But any real "bender" will probably have to wait with the Players Championship next week.
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