Scottie Scheffler slated to play in Texas this week despite newborn baby and arrest chaos… as world No. 1 admits he doesn’t know what will happen next in his legal case
Scottie Scheffler is at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge despite a turbulent few weeks that included the birth of his first child and his dramatic arrest at the PGA Championship.
Scheffler was arrested Friday in notable scenes in Valhalla on a number of charges — including second-degree assault on a police officer, a misdemeanor.
He was released in time to meet his starting time and finished in a tie for eighth place in the second major of the year.
Scheffler’s wife Meredith gave birth to their first child, a son named Bennett, just days before the PGA Championship.
Nevertheless, he is on the list for the Charles Schwab Challenge, which takes place this week near his home in Dallas.
Scottie Scheffler is on hand to play at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge near his home
Scheffler was arrested last week during dramatic scenes at the 2024 PGA Championship
Meanwhile, he faces an arraignment in Kentucky on Tuesday morning after being thrown in a cell following a “major misunderstanding” outside Valhalla when he tried to enter the course and ended up “dragging a police officer 30 feet” with his car.
“I think it’s all up in the air. I don’t know exactly what the next few days have in store… I think I can go home tonight, but we’ll see when I get out of here. I haven’t really had much of a chance to assess the off-court situation,” he said after the tournament.
‘I signed my card and came here straight away. So we’ll see, but hopefully we can get home tonight.”
Scheffler was in with a chance of an incredible victory at the PGA Championship after shooting a second round of five under par.
He closed with a fine 65, but still finished eight shots off Xander Schauffele after falling out of contention on Saturday, when he carded five bogeys and a double bogey in a two-over-par 73.
“Yesterday was obviously quite frustrating and a bit of a different day, but overall proud of how I fought this week,” he said. “I was fortunate to be able to compete here and do what I love.”
“I think it’s all up in the air. “I don’t know exactly what the next few days have in store,” he said
The world number 1 returned to the track on Thursday after his wife Meredith gave birth to a son
Scheffler posted this photo of his newborn son Bennett ahead of the tournament in Kentucky
But he refused to blame that fight for his off-field turmoil, adding: “Did I feel like myself? Absolutely not. Was my warm-up as usual and were the distractions normal? Absolutely not. But I’m not going to sit here and say that’s why I played a bad game of golf yesterday.
Scheffler received a raucous reception from the Kentucky crowd, with some fans chanting “Free Scottie.”
“I guess when you’re between the ropes there, I don’t really hear much about it. It’s nice to hear your name. I heard a lot of “Scottie” chants. “I haven’t heard a lot of the ‘free Scottie’ chants,” he said.
‘It’s great to have the support of the fans. Being here to play for them week in and week out is definitely one of the greatest joys of my life.
“So it was nice to be able to do that this week and play in a major championship again. Obviously the results weren’t what I was hoping for at the beginning of the week, but overall I’m proud of how I fought this week.”