PGA Championship: PGA Tour execs provide perspective on entrance debacle

The PGA Championship entrance debacle triggered fairly a storm at Valhalla Golf Membership on Friday.

Somebody sadly misplaced their life after getting struck by a shuttle bus, after which, in a separate incident, police arrested Scottie Scheffler and booked him into jail for 4 completely different costs.

Fortunately, the World No. 1 made it again for his morning tee time, nevertheless it was nonetheless a disastrous scenario for all concerned. The 2-time Masters winner then returned to the golf course and shot a 5-under 66 regardless of the insane drama that surrounded him.

Scheffler even referred to as the scenario a misunderstanding and thanked the law enforcement officials after his spherical for doing their jobs as a result of that’s who he’s.

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Nevertheless, 155 different gamers wanted to get onto the property. Granted, the PGA of America delayed tee occasions, however that didn’t make it any simpler. Half the sphere nonetheless needed to maneuver site visitors and different delays.

That included the likes of Harris English, Will Zalatoris, Austin Eckroat, and Min Woo Lee, all of whom detailed their mornings after their second rounds. A few of their phrases made Scheffler’s arrest much more mind-boggling.

Zalatoris defined to Gabby Herzig, a reporter for The Athletic, that he, Cam Younger, and Eckroat walked the ultimate stretch to make it on time.

Eckroat gave his facet of the story after his spherical.

“I used to be on my manner right here once we obtained the textual content a few delay. I obtained to 2 miles away, and it took me about half-hour,” Eckroat stated.

“I ended up getting out of my automobile, strolling a mile and a half, and having my spouse drive the automobile in. It was a bizarre morning. One thing I’ve by no means skilled. It was a tragedy adopted by a bizarre incident. It was fascinating, however fortunately, it didn’t have an effect on my play too badly.”

Harris English needed to change his route utterly.

“I had no concept what was happening. They weren’t letting anyone by means of from that facet I used to be arriving from, so I needed to flip round, go north of the course, took an additional 20 minutes or so, after which I obtained into the membership,” English stated.

“It’s darkish, it’s raining, police lights in every single place. It was unusual coming into the course this morning. Not the traditional quiet arrival.”

When requested concerning the incident surrounding Scheffler, English offered some perspective.

“That would have been any one among us,” English added.

“We’re all taking that very same route coming into the membership. Very unlucky. You by no means need to hear about an individual shedding their life coming to the course. It’s simply horrible.”

Lee supplied extra particulars. He famous that each conditions from this morning affected him earlier than and through his spherical.

Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Photographs

Earlier than he teed off, Lee tweeted, “Free Scottie.”

Like lots of the gamers, together with Scheffler, Lee used a courtesy Lexus that many gamers used to drive every day to the course.

“I assumed it was a little bit overreaction,” Lee stated.

“I went round site visitors, and I used to be following automobiles—a Lexus automobile that was one of many courtesy automobiles. Lots of people had been doing it. He was in a courtesy automobile, too, so I don’t know what triggered it. It was simply extra—there was no actual that means to it.”

Given all of this context, Scheffler’s arrest appears more and more like an enormous misunderstanding. However we won’t formally know till the authorized course of performs out.

Nonetheless, just one factor from Friday is for certain: this championship has confirmed to be a logistical nightmare for all concerned.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. For extra golf protection, make sure you observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. It’s also possible to observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.