Coming soon to a screen near you: The X factor
“It’s all about a complete view,” said Xander Schauffele. “My team needs to see every detail of every course to prepare for success.”
Drew Chapin
Hyland's chief marketing officer
If you’re like me, it feels like you haven’t golfed in a thousand years. And right now, you’re reading this in your basement, while you take a break from over-analyzing your golf swing.
On the television is a PGA tournament circa 2004, on the laptop is a YouTube video about putting, and on the floor are your clubs. All of them.
Don’t despair, there’s hope! While many golf courses aren’t open yet and the PGA tournament is still on pause, fresh content featuring some of your favorite players – and a rising star named Xander Schauffele – is coming soon.
… And I’m not talking about pros having fun by golfing left-handed. I’m talking about a 30-minute special airing on CBS on May 3.
But first, we need to talk about X factors.
Data Makes the Difference
Full disclosure: This is a Hyland-sponsored special, and the main focus is on Xander Schauffele, our brand ambassador. If you want to find out about his X factor – how he uses data insights to continually transform his game and gain a competitive advantage – then you don’t want to miss this program.
But don’t take it from me.
“The only way to level the playing field and successfully compete with veterans who have played some courses hundreds of times is to immerse ourselves in comprehensive statistical analysis,” Xander said. “It’s all about a ‘complete view.’ My team needs to see every detail of every course to prepare for success.”
That’s why Xander fits so perfectly as Hyland’s brand ambassador. He gets that a complete view is how you win, no matter what sport – or industry – you’re talking about. You need instant access to data to make more-informed decisions.
A complete view also gives you the ability to be flexible. For example, with the Masters possibly taking place in November, instead of April, teams need to adjust appropriately. The course will likely play longer and softer, according to the PGA. Also, the wind will change. And the sun will set earlier.
So, like the business world, everything you took for granted has changed. Are you adapting successfully?
Everything is a Team Sport
But you can’t win the green jacket by yourself. That’s why a huge part of Xander’s X factor is his team.
From his putting coach to his mental coach and swing coach, Xander really leans on his team. That includes his father, Stefan, a former decathlete, as well as his caddy, Austin Kaiser, among many others.
And they all embrace data.
“Data analysis helps with constant evaluation and improvement,” said Stefan. “That’s why – as a team – we use whatever technology we can find to increase the depth of our statistical analysis. We use the data we collect in everything we do, all the way down to the specifics of decision-making, especially as it pertains to club choice during a particular shot.”
But the team doesn’t stop there. They take that data analysis and use it to transform Xander’s game. Knowing every aspect of his swing and the courses helps them change their strategy quickly in the heat of a tournament.
That’s their X factor.
Mark Your Calendar
If you’re like me, you miss golf. You’re also keenly aware of opportunities to learn from teams that are operating at the highest levels – whether they’re focused on winning a tournament or delivering the best customer experience possible.
So, if you’re ready for some new golf content, check out the PGA special that will air this Sunday, May 3, on CBS @ 2:30 p.m. EDT – PGA TOUR Originals: X factor presented by Hyland.
Following the program at 3:30 p.m. EDT, Hyland will broadcast ‘The X factor Show’ via Facebook Live, which will include Xander Schauffele, Stefan Schauffele, and Ed McQuiston, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Global Sales and Marketing at Hyland. During the Facebook Live event, Xander, Stefan, and Ed will cover X factors both on and off the course. There will also be a live Q&A session with viewers at the end, so if you have a question for any of these pros, this is your chance to ask it.
Tune in, pause your putting video, and clean up your clubs. The wait is over.