Xander Schauffele was first introduced to golf by his father
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NEED TO KNOW
- Xander Schauffele was born to mom Ping-Yi Chen and dad Stefan Schauffele
- Xander's father introduced him to golf at age 9 and went on to coach him for years
- Xander affectionally calls his mother "Hamster"
With the support of his parents, Ping-Yi Chen and Stefan Schauffele, Xander Schauffele has built a career as one of golf’s top competitors.
Their early influences molded Xander into the accomplished golfer he is today, with PGA Tour victories, major championships wins and U.S. Team appearances across the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. Notably, the professional athlete has also won an Olympic gold medal. Now, he's competing in the 2026 Masters Tournament.
Despite his success, Xander remains grounded — a quality that his mom admires.
“What makes me very proud is that even though he won the gold medal at the Olympics or has become very famous, he is still the same old Xander," Ping-Yi told PGATour.com in October 2024. "He’s still kind and gentle and always thinking about others. That has not changed.”
From his multicultural upbringing to their continuous support, here’s everything to know about Xander Schauffele’s parents, Ping-Yi Chen and Stefan Schauffele.
Ping-Yi grew up in Japan
Ping-Yi ’s multicultural upbringing has shaped her perspective and parenting style.
Born in Chinese Taipei, she moved to Tokyo at the age of four after her father arrived in Japan as an exchange student. She remained there through junior college before relocating to the U.S. for university.
Her experiences living across different cultures have given her a unique outlook on identity.
"I’m not even sure of my identity,” Ping-Yi told PGATour.com in October 2024. “I am Chinese but grew up in Japan. So, I would say the way I think about things is closer to Japanese than Chinese, but I can’t say that I am Japanese either, but there are many things I love about Japan."
One of her earliest memories of Japan reflects the kindness that left a lasting impression on her.
She recalled feeling out of place in kindergarten due to the language barrier, but a classmate bridged the gap by offering her a crayon, and the two quietly bonded over drawing together. These small yet meaningful acts of compassion helped shape how she raised her children.
“[Xander] is kind and respectful to everyone,” Ping-Yi said. “I never planned to raise him that way, but I grew up in Japan, so I guess I just naturally raised my boys from a young age the same way I was raised."
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Ping-Yi and Stefan met in San Diego
Fate brought Ping-Yi and Stefan together in 1988 at the United States International University in San Diego.
At the time, Ping-Yi was 20 and spoke no English, while Stefan, 23, didn’t understand Japanese. Despite the language barrier, they felt an undeniable connection.
“Through touch,” Stefan quipped to PGA.com in January 2019. “It was feelings and instincts,” Ping-Yi added.
Three months later, the couple married.
They have two sons
Following Ping-Yi and Stefan's official union, they moved to Germany and welcomed their first child, son Nicolas "Nico" Schauffele, per the Los Angeles Times. The couple later celebrated the arrival of Xander when they returned to the United States.
After Nico earned a master's degree in ecosystem science and policy at University College Dublin, he worked as a social media manager for Xander’s XVS Entertainment LLC from 2019 until 2025, according to his LinkedIn. Since then, he has pursued other ventures, including becoming a realtor.
Away from work, Nico has played a special role in Xander's life.
“My brother's been cooking for me for the last year and a half-ish, so he was able to come out to the course Sunday with my wife,” Xander told PEOPLE in May 2024 after his first major win at the PGA Championship
The newly minted champion fondly remembered the frequent childhood competitions between him and his older brother. However, as they’ve grown older, their relationship has evolved into one of camaraderie.
“We're still very close and I think it's turned more into he just supports me and really just wants me to succeed, and so he knows how much this one meant to me as well,” Xander continued.
Stefan introduced Xander to golf at age 9
Athletics runs in the Schauffele family. Stefan’s grandfather, Richard Schauffele, was a decorated track and field athlete, according to a July 2021 blog post.
Stefan once had his own Olympic aspirations as a decathlete, but his dream was cut short in 1986 when a car accident caused by a drunk driver left him with severe eye injuries, forcing him to abandon his athletic career.
However, Stefan channeled his passion into coaching Xander. After introducing his son to golf at age 9, Stefan was Xander’s swing coach for years.
His involvement was instrumental in Xander’s development, ultimately leading to an Olympic gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Games. The towering German, affectionately nicknamed “Ogre,” was overcome with emotion as he watched his son secure the historic victory.
“I did think of him as soon as I made the putt,” Xander said of his dad in an August 2021 PGA.com interview. “I knew he was going to be there crying.”
Stefan stepped away from coaching duties in 2023, per the Golf Channel.
Xander's mom encouraged discipline in his formative years
Ping-Yi played a significant role in shaping Xander’s disciplined approach to academics and athletics. As a mother with a strong emphasis on structure and responsibility, she instilled values that extended beyond the golf course.
“My mom was pretty strict, when it came to homework and certain things of that nature,” Xander told PGATour.com in October 2024. “My parents would go about it differently and I felt the Asian side from my mom, making sure that we were on top of all our stuff and being tough in that manner."
Ping-Yi has acknowledged her firm parenting style, but believes it ultimately benefited her children.
“I honestly think we made our kids really kind of strict because ... you know Asian upbringings,” she quipped. “We made sure that our kids are following the rules. I mean sorry, but not sorry because they turned out to be okay.”
Xander calls Ping-Yi "Hamster"
Xander shares a playful and affectionate bond with his mother, even giving her a unique nickname that has stuck over the years.
The lighthearted moniker reflects both her personality and his admiration for her quirks.
“My mom’s very little. At times during mine and my brother’s childhood, she held onto certain items,” he told PGATour.com in October 2024. “And for some reason, one day I just called her a hamster because sometimes hamsters put stuff in their mouth and hold on to it and they'll kind of move around, and they're adorable. So I figured it was a good name for her.”
Ping-Yi has fully embraced the nickname, recognizing the humor behind it.
“It’s because I love eating and I’m always a bit restless and running around here and there,” she shared. “Ever since then, he just calls me Hamster. He doesn't call me Mom anymore.”