PGA Championship (Photos from Google images)
What a wild weekend for golf! We have a new Major winner and the number one golfer in the world gets arrested hours before the second round of the PGA Championship.
Schauffele
Congratulations to Xander Schauffele for winning his first major at the PGA Championship on Sunday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Schauffele was considered to be the best golfer in the world without a major championship. As the No.3-ranked golfer in the world, he has been one of the game’s most accomplished players since joining the PGA Tour in 2017. As a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, Schauffele has been a consistent top-10 finisher in the four majors. He also won a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. Now Schauffele adds the Wanamaker Trophy!
Schauffele lead at the end of each round, but it was always close and never a run away. Shooting 6-under par to finish the final round posting a score of 65 was not great for your resting heart rate. Schauffele’s 72-hole total to end with 21-under and beat Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke was the most nervous I have been watching sports in a long time. Seriously, winning by one stroke with a birdie on the final hole; and who said golf isn’t exciting?
Schauffele also recorded the lowest 72-hole score to par and the lowest 72-hole scoring total (263) in a major championship. (2018 PGA Championship Brooks Koepka (264) and 2016 U.S. Open Henrik Stenson (264) were the previous lowest 72-hole score to win a major.)
Now the real question is, will Ricky Fowler ever win a major?
Scheffler
Who said Scottie Scheffler was boring? The guy who looks like Mr. Rogers grandson and his favorite four-letter word is probably ‘dang. He’s the last, THE LAST, guy on the PGA Tour you would guess to get arrested-ever. However, Scottie Scheffler, the number one golfer in the world, was arrested Friday morning while trying to enter the course.
Friday
On Friday morning, there was a fatal accident that caused traffic to stop outside of Valhalla Golf Club. (Prayers to the family.) It was still dark outside. Players were going around traffic to get to the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club. Their cars were marked to get recognized as players. Somehow, there was a misunderstanding from one cop giving Scheffler direction to go and Louisville Metro Police Officer, Bryan Gillis, telling Scheffler to stop. The specific details of how Scheffler ended up in handcuffs and remains unknown and it’s ironic that Officer Gillis had his body camera turned off. This is the only footage we have.
Charges
By 7:28am, Scheffler had a mugshot. By 9:33am he was bailed out of jail and then birdied the first hole in a major. Just WILD! And ended the day with a 66 on the scorecard.
His arraignment was scheduled for today, but has now been moved to Monday, June 3rd. He finished tied for eighth at the PGA Championship, but faces charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officer directing traffic. Scheffler never dropped a “do you know who I am?”. Louisville Mayor says there will be an investigation into the officers and if they followed protocols. Louisville Metro Police Officer, Bryan Gillis is on administrative leave while the legal system works it out.
Scheffler is expected to be cleared of all charges related to his arrest on Friday. But, if Scheffler is in the wrong, he should be held to due process. Friday’s round saw an 18% increase in audience from the 2023 second round. It was the wildest day of a major in the history of golf.
Undefeated
The internet remains undefeated! I’m positive social media saw an increase in posts and impressions and the Scheffler memes flooded feeds. The video of Scheffler walking to the course to 50 Cent’s Many Men, was so good that it got taken down. Here are two of my favorites.
You can help keep the posts coming! Donate any amount, I would really appreciate your support! https://alisonstclair.com/donate/
1 Comment.
If he was in the wrong and assaulted an officer then he should be held accountable.
Love the humor in your writing!