Xander Schauffele has just been crowned champion at The Open - but he could have been a soccer superstar.
The American golfer stormed to victory at the Royal Troon last week at The Open, following up his remarkable PGA Championship victory to take home two of the four Majors.
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But had it not been for an argument with his football coach, he might have been nowhere near a golf course with Schauffele rushing off to tell his dad Stefan about his decision.
The 30-year-old was tipped for a big future in football but after being forced out of his preferred position, a bust-up with his coaches saw him turn his back on the sport forever.
Stefan recalled: “Xander was an excellent soccer player. It was astonishing his talent.
“When he was four he would hit half-volleys, both legs, left and right.
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“I thought that he would rescue the American soccer team because, oh my God, they need help.
“But, no, when he was 14, he had been promised by the soccer team he was at that he’d play attacking midfield. He had always been a sweeper until then.
“The new season came around and the coach — my buddy, a Brazilian guy — runs across the field and says to me, ‘Quick! You have to speak to Xander’.
“Xander comes trotting in behind saying, ‘I just quit. They lied to me. Now, I’ll get on the PGA Tour’.
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“He literally said that, would not change his mind and, from that moment on, golf was his big passion. Now, here we are…”
While Schauffele might have canned his football dream to become a golfer, the pay-off has been worth it after a fine year so far.
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He won his first Major this year at the PGA Championship when he beat Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland by three shots to finish 16-under-par in Louisville, Kentucky.
And the San Diego resident followed that victory up by lifting the Claret Jug earlier this month and his dad reckons he can take home all four Majors.
Stefan added: "If he stays fit and healthy he could be the next guy to win all four Majors.
“He’s halfway there now and he’s played well at The Masters and US Open before, so there’s no reason he can’t win them, too.
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“You can take a look at the statistics and see who has the greatest potential of being the next career Grand Slammer — but he’s the one who has the game.
“Of course, I’m a bit biased. But if you look at how well he’s playing, you will arrive at the same conclusion.”