Scheffler set to play this week despite newborn baby and arrest chaos
Scottie Scheffler is set to play in the Charles Schwab Challenge this week, despite a tumultuous period marked by the birth of his first child and a dramatic arrest at the PGA Championship. The world No. 1 golfer, who tied for eighth at the PGA Championship held at Valhalla, faced a series of charges after…
Scottie Scheffler is set to play in the Charles Schwab Challenge this week, despite a tumultuous period marked by the birth of his first child and a dramatic arrest at the PGA Championship. The world No. 1 golfer, who tied for eighth at the PGA Championship held at Valhalla, faced a series of charges after being detained in extraordinary scenes before Friday’s second round.
Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, among other counts, but was released in time to make his tee time. Despite these challenges, he managed to finish the tournament strongly, tying for eighth place.
Adding to the personal chaos, Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child, a son named Bennett, just days before the PGA Championship. Despite these significant personal and legal distractions, Scheffler is scheduled to compete in the Charles Schwab Challenge, which will be held near his home in Dallas.
The incident that led to Scheffler’s arrest occurred outside Valhalla, where he allegedly dragged a police officer 10 yards with his car during a traffic mishap. Scheffler described the situation as a “huge misunderstanding” and noted the uncertainty of his immediate future. “I think it’s all up in the air. I’m not really sure what the next days have in store,” he commented after the tournament, adding that he hoped to get home soon but had not had much time to evaluate the off-course situation.
During the tournament, Scheffler showed impressive resilience. He shot a five-under-par second round and closed with a solid 65, though his performance on Saturday, which included five bogeys and a double bogey, took him out of contention. Ultimately, he finished eight shots behind the winner, Xander Schauffele.
Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler expressed pride in his perseverance, despite the external turmoil. He acknowledged that the off-field issues impacted his preparation but refused to use them as an excuse for his less-than-ideal round. “Did I feel like myself? Absolutely not… But I’m not going to sit here and say that’s why I went out and played a bad round of golf yesterday,” he stated.
Scheffler also received considerable support from the fans in Kentucky, with chants of “Free Scottie” heard among the crowd. “It’s great to have the support of the fans,” he said. “Being able to play out here in front of them week in, week out is one of the greatest joys of my life.”
Despite the unexpected challenges, Scheffler remains focused on his career and is looking forward to competing again, starting with the Charles Schwab Challenge this week.