LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Scottie Scheffler shook off the burden of an arrest, a booking and a mugshot Friday morning by shooting 5-under 66 and putting himself in contention for the PGA Championship.
Just hours after being arrested for a traffic incident that escalated to the point where Scheffler was handcuffed and taken off course, the world No. 1 carded six birdies to reach 9-under at the tournament, just two strokes behind clubhouse leader Collin Morikawa .
Scheffler attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club early in the morning but encountered a police officer who stopped him. Stories vary there, but the bottom line is that Scheffler was arrested by police shortly after 6 a.m. and booked shortly after. He returned to the track less than an hour before his scheduled start time of 10:08 am.
Although he was charged with four charges, including a misdemeanor, Scheffler was dialed into his golf game from the start, carding a birdie on his very first hole. He then chipped away at Xander Schauffele’s lead stroke after stroke in the first round, eventually taking Schauffele’s -9 on his 17th hole.
Scheffler will be one of the last to tee off on Saturday. A third major – and second consecutive – is now in sight.
This story is developing.
