28 May 2024 , 09:35
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Xander Schauffele has admitted he thought the arrest of world number one Scottie Scheffler was a prank, and refused to believe the Masters champion had been taken into custody.
Scheffler, the best golfer on the planet right now, headed into the PGA Championship as the overwhelming favourite, despite having missed the Wells Fargo Championship due to the birth of his son. He started the tournament well, holing out from 167 yards on the first hole, and it seemed inevitable he'd be in contention late into the weekend.
However, the golf world was sent into meltdown in the early hours of Friday morning when news broke that Scheffler had been arrested and was in police custody. After a tragic incident early in the morning, a fan lost his life after he was hit by a bus outside the Valhalla course.
A temporary traffic solution was set up by police at the course, but Scheffler was accused by police of trying to bypass it, which led to the arrest. Now, it has emerged the news was so baffling that many players on the PGA Tour simply didn't believe it - including Schauffele.
Speaking to Golf.com, Schauffele - who put in a spellbinding performance to win the PGA Championship, his first major - admitted he thought he was being pranked when news filtered into player WhatsApp groups. “The only thing he hurts is a golf ball and other competitors’ feelings most of the time," he joked.
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"But that’s literally the extent of the damage Scottie Scheffler is capable of doing. He’s a solid guy all around. I thought it was a prank.”
While his fellow players may have had their fun with the news, the arrest was no laughing matter for Scheffler. The two-time major champion is set to appear before court on June 3 on charges of second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer.
Scottie Scheffler was detained by police ahead of round two of the PGA Championship (PA)It has since emerged, however, that the police officer who arrested Scheffler has received multiple suspensions in the past - including once for doing donuts in his police car in a parking lot.
Scheffler is facing a fine of up to $10,000 in relation to the second-degree assault charge, and could face up to ten years in jail. But it seems the world number one is confident things will go his way when he has his date in court, as he has committed to playing in the 2024 Memorial Tournament just days after.
The tournament takes place on June 6, three days after the slated date of his trial.