Xander Schauffele’s caddie had a big prediction after his Open win

Xander Schauffele was soaking it all in.

Posing for pictures alongside the Claret Jug with fans on the back of the 18th green, he was slowly coming to terms with the realisation of a childhood dream.

Over by the putting green, meanwhile, his caddie Austin Kaiser was already looking ahead.

“After he won the PGA, I looked at him and said, ‘Let’s go for the Grand Slam in the next three,'” Kaiser smiled as he held court with a handful of reporters. “Let’s do it. Why not?”

Remarkably, after his stunning Open victory here at Royal Troon, Schauffele is halfway there.

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Just two months on from being golf’s nearly man, he is a two-time major champion and can now be considered one of the most distinguished players of his era.

His final round 65 to tame Troon and storm through a congested field on Sunday was equally as good as the 65 that saw him pip Bryson DeChambeau to the PGA Championship 63 days earlier.

No wonder Kaiser is so optimistic about what’s next.

“He’s right there,” he beamed. “He’s played well in Augusta. He’s played well in the US Open. I definitely could see him achieving that. No problem.”

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Kaiser has spoken at length about the “emotional attachment” he feels towards Schauffele, whom he met when the pair played on the San Diego State college team together many years ago. He’s been on the rollercoaster ride that has been Schauffele’s professional career since the start.

Even Kaiser, however, was taken aback by the level of composure his man showed on another major championship Sunday.

“He just seemed like he was in control of everything,” he added. “He didn’t rush anything. We were a little behind at times. I wouldn’t say we’re fast but he’s very intricate with how he goes about things. We can’t switch that up to try and speed up.

“It’s more go through the process, who cares if we’re a little behind? We’re trying to win this golf tournament.”

That they did.

And in some style, too.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.