Stephan Jaeger often introduces himself with his golf score rather than talking about his German background, his slight Tennessee accent, or the journey that took him to Le Golf National for the Paris Olympics.
Xander Schauffele, who recently won the British Open, was at the host course for the Games on Sunday when Jaeger’s name came up.
“I was there that week. Had no idea who he was,” Schauffele said.
Schauffele was talking about a Korn Ferry Tour event in 2016 called the Ellie Mae Classic. He started the tournament with a career-best 62 and felt good about his performance until he saw that Jaeger had shot a 58 to set a tour record.
They played together in the final round. Schauffele shot 65 and ended up nine shots behind Jaeger, who set another Korn Ferry Tour record with a four-day total of 250.
Jaeger’s move to America from Germany was also surprising.
He was playing well at Golfclub München Eichenried, so his parents used an agency to find an American high school for him. The choices were IMG Academy in Florida, Stevenson School near Pebble Beach, and Baylor School in Tennessee.
“I remember thinking, ‘I know California and Florida, but where the hell is Chattanooga?’” Jaeger said. “Coach King Oehmig sent us newspaper articles (about the team). I never visited, but it felt right. I said, ‘Let’s do it for a year. I’ll learn the language. We’ll see what happens with how far I go in golf.’ I thought I’d probably finish school and get a job.”
His first impression was surprising.
He arrived from Germany the day before Baylor — a team that included Harris English and Keith Mitchell — had a high school match at The Honors Course, which is known for being the toughest in Tennessee. It’s where Tiger Woods once shot 80 in the NCAA Championship and still won.
