Xander Schauffele maintained a slim lead midway through the PGA Championship after a day dominated by the chaotic arrest of Scottie Scheffler in the early hours of Friday morning at Valhalla.
The American had attempted to make his way onto the course before the start of the second round, but was stopped by police due to what he later described as a “big misunderstanding”.
Scheffler was handcuffed and arrested, before being charged by the Louisville Metropolitan Correctional Department, with the second round pushed back an hour and 20 minutes due to the fatal crash.
The 27-year-old was later released by police and produced a sparkling five-under-par 66 to stay in contention for his second major in as many months. The world No. 1 is three shots behind Schauffele who shot a three-under 69 to put the clubhouse lead at -12.
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and fellow American Sahith Theegala are in contention at -11 and -10 respectively, but Rory McIlroy’s attempt to end his decade-long major drought has stuttered after a disappointing tied round.
Relive all the action from the second round of the PGA Championship below:
Scheffler’s quick release angers those who remember police unrest in the city
The arrest and immediate release of world number one golfer Scottie Scheffler Friday from a Louisville jail that allowed him to participate in a high-profile tournament after being charged with felony assault has riled some who question whether he benefited from preferential treatment because of its reputation.
They point to what they see as malfeasance by the Louisville Police Department, which a national report last year said used excessive force and invalid search warrants, and question why Scheffler was released so quickly.
Police continue to investigate, but here’s a look at the incident and policing in Louisville:
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 07:30
Scottie Scheffler ”Stretching in Jail Cell Was a First” After PGA Championship Arrest
Golf pro Scottie Scheffler said “stretching in a jail cell was a first” for him, after being arrested the morning before returning to play in the PGA Championship.
The world number one told a press conference that he was “still dizzy” from the day’s events and that he had “never imagined going to prison”, let alone before a departure.
Read the full story here:
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 06:30
Watch: Scottie Scheffler seeks help after being arrested by police
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 05:30
Scottie Scheffler is not the first professional golfer to be arrested during a tournament
The arrest of Scottie Scheffler hours before his departure for the second round of the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. But it certainly wasn’t the first.
Tiger Woods and John Daly are probably the most high-profile golfers to wear handcuffs, but Scheffler’s arrest is very different because it happened while he was competing in a tournament — a major championship, no less.
Woods was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of driving under the influence when he was found asleep in the driver’s seat of his Mercedes-Benz while recovering from back surgery. Daly was arrested in North Carolina in October 2008 after he was found drunk outside a Hooters restaurant and detained until he became sober.
At least five other professional golfers – Robert Allenby, Steven Bowditch, Matt Every, Joe Ogilvie and Jack McGurn – were arrested during or around a tournament.
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 04:30
Who is Scottie Scheffler, the golfer accused of assault outside a tournament?
Golfer Scottie Scheffler made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he was arrested and charged with felony assault of a police officer on Friday.
Scheffler, 27, allegedly refused to stop for police outside Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, on his way to the second round of the PGA Championship.
Here is a look back at his career:
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 03:30
Scottie Scheffler: I was shaking in ‘shock and fear’ after arrest at US PGA
Scottie Scheffler has spoken of his shock, confusion and fear after being arrested on his way to the US PGA Championship on a surreal and tragic Friday morning.
Scheffler was arrested by Louisville Metro Police after attempting to enter the golf club in heavy traffic caused by an earlier, unrelated accident in which a pedestrian died after being struck by a shuttle bus.
Tournament officials said they were “devastated” by the death of local man John Mills, who worked for an on-site vendor in Valhalla.
Scheffler, the world number one, faces charges of second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and failure to obey the traffic signals of an officer directing traffic.
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 02:30
Ranking
-9: Scheffler, Détry, Hubbard, DeChambeau
-8: Hovland, Eckroat, Finau
-7: Koepka, MacIntyre, Matsuyama, Wallace, English
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 02:05
Game suspended
Darkness ended the second round of the PGA Championship, meaning many will have to return tomorrow morning to complete their round.
DeChambeau, however, quickly finishes his final hole with a par to enter the clubhouse at -9. A superb six under par 65 from LIV Golfer who is not one to ignore this weekend.
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 01:52
Bogey-bogey finish for MacIntyre
A real kick-off for the only Scot in the peloton as he finished with two bogeys to fall out of the top ten. It’s a brutal putt from a downhill lie that goes past the hole and he is unable to get back up the slope to save par.
Still, a productive day and he’s still on track for a strong finish before the weekend.
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 01:46
Theegala in the running
Theegala -10 (67), Finau -8 (69)
A wild tee shot from Theegala thwarted his final birdie effort but it was a superb round from the American that hit the heart of the matter. Finau, meanwhile, showed excellent short game touch to allow him to finish with a birdie and go up to -8.
A reverse round for him, but don’t count him out just yet.
Ben FlemingMay 18, 2024 01:43