Controversy! Xander Schauffele angers PGA Tour fans with drop
PGA Tour star Xander Schauffele stirred controversy during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship with a contentious drop on the eighth hole at Quail Hollow Club. Already at an impressive six-under par, Schauffele faced trouble with a wayward tee shot that veered into the trees on the right, obscuring his view of the…
PGA Tour star Xander Schauffele stirred controversy during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship with a contentious drop on the eighth hole at Quail Hollow Club.
Already at an impressive six-under par, Schauffele faced trouble with a wayward tee shot that veered into the trees on the right, obscuring his view of the pin situated at the back right of the green. When he reached his ball, it was nestled against a fence, seemingly in an unplayable lie.
Xander gets a free drop from here (deep in the woods) 👈
to here 👉
…due to "line of sight relief from shotlink tower"
——
this tour is a joke pic.twitter.com/acdqxtsPi2— Adon7x 🇺🇸 (@adon7X) May 9, 2024
🚨FULL EXCHANGE ON VIDEO
(I am not suicidal)@XSchauffele you are a fraud cheating coward…keep choking on Sundays pic.twitter.com/iFL1JIuVqF— Adon7x 🇺🇸 (@adon7X) May 9, 2024
Despite appearances, Schauffele managed to secure a favorable drop after consulting a rules official. He positioned himself near a shot link tower and wangled a fortuitous line of sight drop, allowing him to advance his shot to about 34 feet from the pin. He then two-putted for par, closing with a birdie on the next hole to card a seven-under 64, taking a two-shot lead at the time.
However, Schauffele’s actions drew ire from some fans, who accused him of cheating and criticized the PGA Tour for allegedly favoring professionals in such situations. One user labeled it an “abomination” and called Schauffele a cheat, while another suggested he should go to jail. Others pointed out the lack of visibility of the alleged obstruction and criticized the rules official for granting the drop.
In defense, Schauffele explained that his ball was close to the fence, making a backwards punch-out impossible. He and his caddie moved rocks near the ball before bringing in the rules official, ultimately leading to the fortunate drop. Schauffele acknowledged his luck but emphasized his satisfaction with the outcome, including a birdie on the final hole.
