Scheffler goes from jail to chance of win
World No 1 chips away with birdies for strong round after bizarre episode
Perspective was even harder to come by than birdies through all the raindrops, bourbon and cigar smoke that streamed across golf’s biggest stage in one of the sport’s most bizarre mornings ever.
By the time the world’s best player, Scottie Scheffler, had been booked into jail, had his mug shot taken, his police statement recorded, his release secured, entrepreneurs near Valhalla Golf Club were already selling “Free Scottie” T-shirts outside.
And by the time the day had ended, Scheffler was remarkably tied for fourth place at the PGA Championship after a second round that looked as efficient as any he has played of late.
He chipped away, birdie by birdie, at the notion a predawn scuffle with police, a jail-issued orange shirt, or endless snark and commentary that surrounded this would slow him down.
“It’s just amazing how you come out here after something like that, put that all aside and make a birdie on the first hole,” golf fan Dean Adams said near the 14th green.
Scheffler made five more birdies after that and shot fiveunder 66. Every time a putt dropped or a shot was hit, chants of “Scott-eee, Scott-eee” and “Free Scott-eee” pierced across the drizzle-dampened, mudcaked country club.
“As far as best rounds of my career, I would say it was pretty good,” Scheffler, who has won four times already this year, including at the Masters, said. “I definitely never imagined ... going to jail the morning before one of my tee times.”
The episode was triggered when a worker for a PGA vendor, 69-year-old John Mills, was hit and killed by an oncoming bus as he tried to cross through traffic outside the golf course in the predawn darkness.
Police said an officer who tried to stop Scheffler as he hurried to the course ended up in hospital after being dragged to the ground when the car Scheffler was driving “accelerated forward”. Scheffler called it “a chaotic situation and a big misunderstanding”.
Xander Schauffele retained the lead with a three-under-par 68 and 12-under 130 after two rounds. Collin Morikawa was one shot behind after a string of birdies en route to a six-under 65. Sahith Theegala had a 67 and was alone in third at 10 under.
Scheffler was in a four-way tie at nine under. Eighteen golfers had to finish their second round yesterday.
Tiger Woods made two triple-bogeys over four holes in the second round on the way to a six-over 77 that ensured he would miss the cut.
I definitely never imagined ... going to jail the morning before one of my tee times
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER