Xander Schauffele explores every shot he’s hit at Augusta National using cutting-edge digital technology. How well does he know his Masters history?
Xander Schauffele stepped into the IBM Data Room at Augusta National to take a unique journey through his Masters history. In a segment from Mornings @ the Masters, the American golfer was challenged to recall details about his nine Masters appearances using a digital twin of the golf course that contains over 200,000 shots from the last decade of competition.
The interactive experience visualized every shot Schauffele has ever hit at the Masters, with white lines representing pars, yellow lines showing birdies, and blue lines indicating bogeys or worse. The format provided a fascinating look at how his game has evolved at one of golf’s most prestigious venues.
Testing His Masters Knowledge
When asked about his lowest round at the Masters, Schauffele answered confidently: “65.” He correctly identified it coming in 2019, though he initially guessed it was the third round when it was actually the second. Looking at the visualization of that round, he noted what stood out immediately: “Every good round starts with a bogey for me.”
The conversation shifted to birdie totals across his Masters career. Schauffele estimated he had made around 109 birdies, but the data showed he was at 101—still an impressive total that highlighted his consistent scoring ability at Augusta National.
One particularly telling statistic emerged when examining which hole Schauffele has birdied most frequently. When asked to guess, he answered “two,” but the data revealed it was actually hole 13, where he has recorded 19 birdies and one eagle. “Even better,” he remarked with satisfaction upon learning the correct answer.
Distance and Evolution at Augusta
The digital analysis also revealed insights into Schauffele’s driving distances and strategy at Augusta National. When asked about his longest drive at the course and which hole produced it, he guessed the second hole. However, the data showed his longest drive actually came on hole nine during the third round of 2024, measuring an impressive 378.92 yards—significantly longer than his estimate of 364 yards.
Schauffele acknowledged that driving conditions at Augusta have evolved over his nine starts. “Driving it around the corner isn’t as easy as it used to be,” he explained, “so you’re earning your birdies on this golf course now with the extended distance.” The third round 2024 drive in question benefited from favorable wind conditions, with the golfer noting his ball landed far back on the hole.
The IBM Data Room experience underscored how modern technology is transforming how players and fans understand tournament performance. Mornings @ the Masters airs every morning at 9 a.m. EDT on YouTube, offering viewers unprecedented access to shot data and player insights from Augusta National.