Xander Schauffele won his first career major at the PGA Championship, overshadowed by teammate Scottie Scheffler’s arrest by Louisville Police last Friday. Scheffler called it a “big misunderstanding,” and his arraignment was delayed to June 3. Schauffele revealed a WhatsApp group chat with the world No. 1 golfer and his peers to ease the tension after Scheffler’s arrest. The group chat included Gary Woodland, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Pat Cantlay, and their physio. Despite the chaos, Schauffele noted that Scheffler handled the situation well and it seems like the charges may be dropped.
A report surfaced before the final round of the PGA Championship stating that Jefferson County prosecutors were planning to drop charges against Scheffler, but this has not been done yet. Scheffler is facing charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic. Scheffler maintained that he never intended to disregard any instructions from the police and expressed condolences to the family of the man who passed away in an earlier accident, putting everything in perspective.
Schauffele won the PGA Championship after hitting a birdie putt on 18 to beat Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke. Despite the victory, the focus remained on Scheffler’s arrest and the potential dropping of charges. Schauffele praised Scheffler for handling the situation well and expressed confidence that Scheffler will come out okay from it. The group chat with top golfers and their physio was used to support Scheffler during this challenging time, showing solidarity among the golfers.
Scheffler’s arrest brought a lot of attention to the PGA Championship, overshadowing Schauffele’s victory. Despite the distraction, Schauffele was able to focus on his game and secure the major win. The support shown by his peers in the group chat helped alleviate some of the tension surrounding the arrest. As Scheffler’s arraignment was delayed and the potential dropping of charges was discussed, the focus of the tournament remained on both the on-course action and the off-course drama.
The PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club was marked by both triumph and controversy, with Schauffele’s major win and Scheffler’s arrest dominating headlines. The golfing community rallied around Scheffler in the aftermath of his arrest, showing support through the group chat and expressing confidence that he would come out of the situation okay. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus will likely shift back to the golfing action, but the impact of Scheffler’s arrest will linger in the memories of this year’s championship.
