Xander Schauffele Labels Riviera’s Conditions in One Word After a Demanding Round
Xander Schauffele USA, OCTOBER 11, 2025 - Golf : Baycurrent Classic Presented by LEXUS 3rd round at Yokohama Country Club, Kanagawa, Japan. Noxthirdxpartyxsales PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxJPN aflo_306599846
Xander Schauffele USA, OCTOBER 11, 2025 - Golf : Baycurrent Classic Presented by LEXUS 3rd round at Yokohama Country Club, Kanagawa, Japan. Noxthirdxpartyxsales PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxJPN aflo_306599846
After a rain-soaked round, Xander Schauffele secured fifth place in round two. The star golfer then had one word to describe the conditions at Riviera Country Club, which tested every player's resolve.
A day earlier, the first round had to be suspended for 3 hours due to heavy rain. But coming to the second day, golfers had to swing on a drenched course. Schauffele called it “damp.”
He confessed that he was "tired" after completing 27 holes. Even after a drizzle, the poa annua greens soak up the moisture, and things get difficult. Playing on the spongy and fast greens after rain demands complete commitment and leaves players tired.
“You're definitely committing to something that's very different than normal,” Schauffele told reporters at the Genesis Invitational.
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - FEBRUARY 20: Xander Schauffele hits a tee shot on the 6th hole during the second round of the Genesis Invitational on February 20, 2026, at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire GOLF: FEB 20 PGA, Golf Herren The Genesis Invitational EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260220003
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - FEBRUARY 20: Xander Schauffele hits a tee shot on the 6th hole during the second round of the Genesis Invitational on February 20, 2026, at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire GOLF: FEB 20 PGA, Golf Herren The Genesis Invitational EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260220003
“Usually, you're trying to play up to certain holes. Now out of the rough, you're like, ‘Oh, this is a jumper, it might fly the pin.’ And you're like, ‘That's actually pretty good because it's going to plug.’" he added.
With soft greens, a ball flying long could still stop quickly or even plug, reducing the risk of a big miss. And that has made things more complicated in courses like Riviera.
That’s the reason why many wished for the Genesis Invitational to happen sometime around late July or August.
Does Xander Schauffele Prefer to Play at Riviera Later in the Year?
“I don't really care,” the 32-year-old revealed his stance on the recent conditions at Riviera Country Club. Regardless of the damp or dry greens, Schauffele seemed to enjoy the challenge this course brings.
“Unfortunately, we got a big storm that came through that kind of dampened our West Coast," he continued. "But for the most part, I enjoy being here, and I'll always come to compete anytime of the year.”
For the two-time major champion, it was the on-course challenge that kept him coming back to Riviera.
But what's your opinion on the dampness at Riviera? Should the PGA Tour move ahead with the plans to host the Genesis Invitational in August?
Follow Club Golf for more updates on the 2026 Genesis Invitational.
Written by
Krushna Pattnaik
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi