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:
Wheels falling off for Woods
Woods +5 (3)
Things just got very difficult for the four-time PGA Champion.
A short-game nightmare on the second leads to a triple bogey on the second and the American compounds that the very next hole, racing his birdie effort past the hole and missing the come-backer for par.
He’s dropped like a stone to +5 and now has a mountain to climb to make the cut.
Schauffele up and running
Schauffele -10 (3), Thomas -3 (3)
All the action from this morning may have led people to forget about the brilliance on display from Xander Schauffele in the first round.
In case you needed any reminding, the American rolls in his first birdie to get within one of Morikawa, while his playing partner Thomas makes it back-to-back birdies to get up to -3.
Scheffler finishes up
Scheffler -9 (66), Clark +4 (75), Harman -2 (68)
When placed in the context of this morning’s events, that will be right up there with the best rounds of golf Scheffler has ever played. Many might not have returned to the course, but Scheffler did and a finishing par at the last sees him card a second-round 66 to stay right in the thick of the action heading into the week.
Simply astonishing.
Meanwhile, Harman responds well from his opening round to make the cut after a Friday 68 but there will be no third round for US Open Wyndham Clark who is struggling for form of late and finishes at +4 for the tournament.
A second-round 66 for Scottie.@ROLEX | #Rolex pic.twitter.com/RnBKK8m2q3
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024
Hubbard drops another
Hubbard -8 (15*)
Hubbard got up and around the lead at one point but he’s dropping back in these closing holes. A par putt comes up short and he’s back to -8 now.
Monster birdie for McIlroy
McIlroy -6 (1)
Well, that’s a pretty decent way to start! Not his best approach into the first green but the Northern Irishman pours it in the middle of the cup to get himself a birdie on the first.
A MONSTER putt!
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 17, 2024
What a way to start for Rory 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZjKp5YqGNB
Woods and McIlroy underway
The two big stars are out on the course now as the afternoon wave makes its way out onto Valhalla. They’ll all be hoping for a rain-less afternoon to help them catch up with Morikawa at the top of the board.
Closing bogey for Morikawa
Morikawa -11 (65)
Not the way that he would have wanted to end his round. Like Kim, the American leaves his chip short and has a lengthy putt to save his par but it doesn’t drop.
Still, a superb second-round 65 that has catapulted him into the lead as he goes in search of his third major.
Scheffler has another
Scheffler -9 (16*), Clark +3 (16*), Harman -2 (16*)
When the chipping lets him down, even the putting picks up. The American’s second into the par-5 leaves him with work to do and his follow-up chip isn’t the greatest.
Nevermind, though, as the World No.1 pours in the birdie putt from around 19 feet to get up to nine under par and ever closer to the lead.
A birdie, too, for Harman but it’s a hugely costly double bogey for Clark who now looks set to miss the cut.
Detry finishes with a bang
Detry -9 (67)
Differing fortunes for Detry, meanwhile, who finishes with the bang at his last - the par-5 18th - as he rolls in an eagle putt to shoot up the leaderboard after carding a final-round 67.
He’ll be right in the thick of it tomorrow, that is for sure.
Closing double bogey for Kim
Kim -5 (71)
Not the end Tom Kim would have hoped for in the slightest. His wedge into the ninth green from the fairway comes up short and the South Korean’s follow-up chip doesn’t stay up on the green.
It’s not a great second attempt and he’s then forced to tap in for a double bogey after his bogey putt whistles by. A round of 71 but he’ll be seething by how it ended.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments