LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Xander Schauffele was within the lead for the fifth time in his final six rounds. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was within the thick of rivalry along with his forty second straight spherical of par or higher. Bryson DeChambeau smashed his approach into the combination with 9 tee pictures over 300 yards.
By all accounts, this was simply one other day on the PGA Championship.
Not even shut.
Not with Scheffler in handcuffs earlier than daybreak behind a police automotive. Not with the second spherical delayed by 1 hour, 20 minutes due to a deadly pedestrian-bus accident proper outdoors the gates of Valhalla. Not with just a few followers wearing orange jumpsuits, and T-shirts being bought that mentioned in huge letters, “Free Scottie.”
Many of the golf, from Collin Morikawa’s 5 straight birdies to Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods lacking the minimize, felt like a footnote on this freaky Friday.
Scheffler, a month in the past decked out in a Masters inexperienced jacket, was in orange jail garb for a mug shot when he was arrested for not following police investigating the deadly accident.
“You felt prefer it was form of a prank or one thing if you see a mug shot of Scottie,” Schauffele mentioned after a 3-under 68 to guide Morikawa by one shot going into the weekend.
Scheffler was launched from jail and made it again to Valhalla with 56 minutes to spare earlier than his tee time. He shot a 66 was three pictures again in his bid for a second straight main.
“I really feel like my head remains to be spinning,” he mentioned.
Scheffler was arrested and spent a pair hours Friday morning in a jail cell earlier than making it to Valhalla in time to card a 5-under 66 on the PGA Championship.
The world’s No. 1 participant was driving to Valhalla about 6 a.m. when he bumped into visitors, unaware police had been investigating a pedestrian — John Mills, who labored for a vendor on the match — being struck and killed by a shuttle bus close to the doorway.
Scheffler was arrested for failing to comply with police directions. The arrest report alleged a Louisville Metro police officer was dragged to the bottom as Scheffler’s automotive drove by, inflicting swelling and abrasions on the officer’s left wrist. Scheffler mentioned it was a “chaotic scenario” and he by no means meant to ignore the police directions. “An enormous misunderstanding,” he mentioned.
“I can’t think about what they’re going by means of. I really feel for them,” he mentioned of the sufferer’s household. “My scenario will get dealt with.”
Scheffler was handcuffed and brought into custody. He might see from the holding cell video of his arrest on ESPN. His coronary heart was racing and his physique was shaking.
“I did spend a while stretching in a jail cell. That was a primary for me,” Scheffler mentioned. “I used to be simply sitting there ready and I began going by means of my warmup. I felt like there was an opportunity I could possibly nonetheless come out right here and play. I began going by means of my routine and I attempted to get my coronary heart price down as a lot as I might at present.
“I used to be lucky to have the ability to make it again out and play some golf at present.”
Not simply any golf. He hit a wedge to three ft for birdie on his first gap. He was strong from tee-to-green, made just a few putts and had a spherical that ranked amongst his greatest beneath the circumstances.
“So far as greatest rounds of my profession, I’d say it was fairly good,” Scheffler mentioned. “I undoubtedly by no means imagined ever going to jail, and I undoubtedly by no means imagined going to jail the morning earlier than one among my tee instances for positive.”
The lengthy day lastly resulted in darkness with 18 gamers nonetheless on the course. They had been to return Saturday morning to complete the second spherical. The minimize could be not less than 1-under par, the bottom in PGA Championship historical past.
Gamers expressed condolences, confusion and concern Friday afternoon at Valhalla Golf Membership.
