Day two of the PGA Championship at Valhalla was a whirlwind for Scottie Scheffler, the current World No. 1 golfer. Scheffler was arrested on his way to the golf course on Friday morning in what he describes as a “huge misunderstanding,” leading to charges of second-degree felony assault. Despite this, Scheffler returned to the course, made six birdies, and ended the second round at -9, placing him third on the leaderboard.
However, Scheffler faces another challenge as he prepares for the third round: his trusted caddie, Ted Scott, will not be by his side. Scott, who has been with Scheffler since 2021, left the championship after the second round to attend his daughter’s high school graduation in Louisiana. Scott will return in time for Sunday’s final round. Scheffler had been aware of Scott’s commitment to his daughter’s graduation since the start of the year and had arranged for a backup caddie.
Brad Payne, Scheffler’s longtime friend and PGA Tour Chaplain, will caddie for him during the third round. Scheffler emphasized that family comes first, a value he and Scott both share.
The dramatic arrest of Scheffler on Friday morning occurred after a fatal accident near Valhalla Golf Club delayed the start of the second round. A pedestrian, later identified as PGA Championship vendor John Mills, was hit and killed by a shuttle bus at 5 am. Scheffler, caught in the ensuing traffic, was mistakenly arrested.
Scheffler detailed the surreal experience in a press conference, explaining how he was taken to jail, where he tried to calm himself by chatting with a kind officer and even stretching in his cell to prepare for the round. He expressed his shock and confusion during the ordeal, which included seeing himself on ESPN from the holding cell. The officers treated him kindly, and he even joked with them, helping to ease his nerves.
Scheffler began his press conference by paying tribute to Mills, expressing his condolences and recognizing the tragedy of the situation. Despite the chaotic start, Scheffler managed to compose himself and perform exceptionally well in the second round, showcasing his resilience and focus.
As Scheffler moves forward in the PGA Championship, he does so without Scott by his side for now, but with the support of Payne, ready to tackle the challenges of the tournament’s final rounds.