Xander Schauffele reveals Scottie Scheffler’s shock arrest at PGA Championship ‘felt like a prank’
Xander Schauffele was stunned into disbelief when he heard the news of Scottie Scheffler’s arrest during an unfortunate morning at Valhalla Golf Club Friday.
Schauffele retained his position at the top of the PGA Championship standings and led at the midway point of the major after shooting a three-under 68 following a chaotic start to the second round.
World No. 1 Scheffler was forced to begin his preparations for the second round from a prison cell on Friday after being arrested over a ‘major misunderstanding’ at the gates of Valhalla.
The 27-year-old was pushed against a police car and arrested before being charged with second-degree assault on an officer and taking a mugshot.
Scheffler’s legal troubles came when he tried to gain access to the course following the death of a PGA Championship sales representative. John Mills died Friday morning when he was hit by a bus on his way to work.
Xander Schauffele was stunned into disbelief when he heard the news of Scottie Scheffler’s arrest on Friday
Scheffler poses for his mugshot after being charged with second-degree assault on Friday
Incredible footage showed officers leading Scheffler away in handcuffs early Friday morning
Schauffele, who did not turn until 2:38 p.m. due to a delay of one hour and twenty minutes, talked about the tragic accident and the events that followed.
“First of all, the fatality is absolutely the worst,” the overnight leader said after his second lap. “I’m sure Scottie would agree.
“Anyone who comes around golf tournaments, this is never something that should ever happen. That’s for starters.
“Then when you saw a mugshot of Scottie, you felt like it was a joke or something.
“I know Scottie pretty well; we share a physio and we’ve been playing golf for a few years now, and I know he’s a solid guy and he had no ill intentions towards anyone. Hopefully he comes out unscathed. But Scottie is a good guy, so hopefully he’ll do well.”
Despite having to start his stretches from his cell and only arriving on the track an hour before his starting time, Scheffler managed to keep his nerves under control.
After swapping his orange jumpsuit for his usual Nike attire, the Masters champion shot a five-under 66 to move into a tie for fourth alongside Thomas Detry, Bryson DeChambeau and Mark Hubbard.
After going low in front of the crowd of onlookers – some wearing T-shirts with his mugshot printed on them – Scheffler opened up on a “chaotic” morning and revealed he was watching himself through the bars on TV.
Scheffler then returned to Valhalla to shoot a remarkable five under par just hours later
Fans quickly donned “Free Scottie” t-shirts to watch him play his second round in Valhalla
“I was quite upset to say the least,” he admitted. “The officer who took me to jail was very nice, he was great. We had a nice conversation in the car, which calmed me down. And I sat there waiting to go in. I asked him, “Hey, excuse me, can you come over? Can you come hang out with me for a few minutes so I can calm down?”
‘I was never angry. I was just in shock. And I think my body was just shaking the whole time. I was shaking for an hour. It was definitely a new feeling for me. And he came out, we had a nice chat and the officers at the jail were great.”
He also started the long-awaited press conference with a tribute to John Mills.
“One day he goes to the golf course to watch a tournament,” Scheffler said. ‘A few moments later he tries to cross the street and is no longer with us. I can’t imagine what they’re going through, my heart, you know, I feel for them. I’m sorry.’