PGA Championship 2024: Xander Schauffele leads after Scottie Scheffler plays on despite arrest
The Masters champion described his arrest outside Valhalla as a ‘big misunderstanding’ as he returned to shoot a five-under 66 and keep himself in contention at the halfway stage
Xander Schauffele maintained a slender lead at the halfway stage of 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 been attempting to make his way to the course ahead of the start of the second round, but was stopped by police over what he later called “a big misunderstanding”.
Scheffler was placed in handcuffs and arrested, before being charged by the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections, with the second round pushed back by an hour and 20 minutes due to the fatal accident.
The 27-year-old was later released by police and produced a sparkling five-under-par 66 to remain in contention for his second major in as many months. The World No.1 sits three shots back of Schauffele who fired a three-under 69 to set the clubhouse lead at -12.
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and fellow American Sahith Theegala sit in contention at -11 and -10 respectively but Rory McIlroy’s bid to end his decade-long major drought stuttered after a disappointing even-par round.
Relive all the action from the second round of the PGA Championship below:
Finau with a beauty
Finau -9 (11)
The perfect tee shot into the par-3 11th and the American has no problem tapping that in for a birdie to move into the log jam at -9.
RIGHT DOWN THE LINE! 😮💨
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024
Tony Finau birdies on the 11th hole.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/lCsMZlxoT0
Bryson sneaking into contention
DeChambeau -8 (10)
We’ve not mentioned Bryson plenty today, but he’s making surged through the field and is now comfortably into the top ten after he takes apart the par-5 10th, which many before him have failed to do in the last hour or so.
Can he grab a couple more in the closing stages?
MacIntyre moves alongside Scheffler
MacIntyre -9 (13*)
Many of the big names are out on the back nine today but the Scot, who started on the back nine, is quietly going about his business on the front nine late on Friday.
And now he’s up into a tie for third as he pours in another birdie on the fourth to move to -9 for the tournament. Impressive work.
Dropped shots for Theegala and Hovland
Theegala -9 (10), Hovland -7 (12)
Two unforced errors from this duo as they both drop shots in their respective back nines. Theegala is wild off the tee and when a punch out onto the fairway is miscued, he’s only in further trouble.
A bogey six in the end for him.
Hovland, meanwhile, flies a wedge long of the 12th green and can’t get up and down to save his par.
Great response from Koepka
Koepka -6 (11)
The defending champion made a costly double-bogey seven at the par-5 10th but has responded emphatically, with a majestic tee shot into the par-3 11th setting up a tap-in birdie to get him back to -6 for the tournament.
Bounce Back Brooks!
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024
Koepka within two feet 👀#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/53F4mwvmPK
Schauffele misses out again
Schauffele -12 (14), Thomas -5 (14), Aberg +1 (14)
The one criticism often levelled at Schauffele is his ability to seal the deal in the biggest events. He leads right now but the American sure has missed out on some great opportunities to extend that lead in recent holes.
Another great one passes him by on the 14th hole and his lead remains just one. Thomas remains at -5, while Aberg is still looking for birdies to try and get inside that projected cut, which currently sits at -1.
Double bogey for McIlroy
McIlroy -4 (12)
A dagger to Rory’s hopes of a run at this year’s PGA Championship He’s been stuck in neutral for the past hour or so and now he’s taken a huge, backwards step after a short-game nightmare leads to a double-bogey six on the 12th hole.
He’s now eight shots back of the lead and in need of a huge finish today to keep his hopes alive.
Hovland looking happy
Hovland -8 (11)
And why wouldn’t he be? Four birdies in the last six holes - including back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11- have him in a tie for seventh at -8.
A simply remarkable turnaround of form for the Norwegian who looked despondent with his form heading into the tournament.
Sahith into solo third
Theegala -10 (9), Finau -8 (9)
Birdies aplenty for Sahith in this second round as he rolls a putt superbly down the slope and right into the heart of the cup. A bogey-free 31 for his front nine today moves him into solo third and just two shots off the lead. Superb stuff.
Finau, playing alongside him, misses out and remains at -8.
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