Not a Dan Jenkins novel: Scottie Scheffler shoots 5-under at the PGA Championship following a morning arrest

The No. 1 golfer in the world getting arrested on one felony charge and three misdemeanor charges ahead of his second round of a major championship sounds like something the late, great Dan Jenkins left out of one of his novels than anything likely to take place in reality. But for Scottie Scheffler, that’s what happened on Friday as he was arrested on charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic before his second round at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

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And in the wake of that arrest? Scheffler quickly scurried to the course, shot a 5-under 66 in consistent rain and wet conditions, and placed himself within striking distance of the lead at 9-under for the tournament as he looks to win his second major of the year and third of his career.

“I definitely never imagined ever going to jail and I definitely never imagined going to jail in the morning before my tee time,” Scheffler told reporters in Louisville after the round.

Each detail seems more at home in a novel than the last, including…

• The fact that Scheffler, universally praised for his on- and off-course character; a first-time father as of this week; who eagled his first hole with a 167-yard shot that found the cup, was arrested due to what he described as a “chaotic situation” with a police officer directing traffic as the result of a fatal accident near Valhalla

• ESPN capturing the entire scene via video with an eyewitness account from Jeff Darlington

• Scheffler admitting he began stretching for his round in his jail cell

• An officer at the facility jokingly asking if Scheffler wanted the “full experience,” meaning, did he want to eat jail food. After all, he hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. Scheffler took the sandwich.

• ESPN being played within the jail and showing Scheffler his own arrest on repeat

• A weather delay providing an opportunity for the former Longhorn to make his tee time, a delay during which an officer told Scheffler to get ready for his release and departure

• Members of Valhalla’s ownership group riding with Scheffler back to the course

• Arriving at the course 56 minutes before his round was scheduled to begin, a point when most pros are just starting their warmup process

• Shooting a 5-under round with six birdies, including one on the first hole he played in the par five No. 10.

The two-time Masters champion said he was “rattled,” his head was still spinning, and he was physically shaking following his arrest. Scheffler said he was calmed down by his interactions with the Louisville police, interactions where he never once tried to name-drop himself in order to expedite his release.

He met with his family, coach, and manager before the round and he mentioned they helped calm him down ahead of his 18 holes with Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark. All Scheffler proceeded to do after that was outplay Harman and Clark. Harman, the 2023 Open Champion, and Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open Champion, shot 3-under and plus-4, respectively.

Further details add to the wildness of the story, as seen on social media and during Scheffler’s walk back to the clubhouse following his par on his final hole, the par four No. 9. Two men, one with Scheffler’s mugshot on his shirt and the other with Scheffler’s face made to look like the “Prison Mike” character from The Office, greeted the world’s No. 1 player as he strolled to the clubhouse after his 5-under round. Those two weren’t the only ones with Scheffler-related garb.

Valhalla boasts three par fives and Scheffler one-putt birdied all of them on Friday, including his starting hole at No. 10. His only setback was a bogey on the par three No. 11, when he missed a par putt after his tee shot landed just off the green. In his typical, unflappable style, Scheffler birdied the par four No. 12 to get back to -1 on the day.

“It took a few holes to feel normal,” Scheffler said. “I obviously didn’t have my normal warmup and I usually stick to my routine… It took a few holes to settle in.”

He’d birdie the second par five at No. 18, then add birdies on the par four No. 2, the par four No. 4, and the par five No. 7. He posted a 34 going in and a 32 going out for a 66.

Golf was Scheffler’s focus, as difficult as it was. The crowd around him played up the whole scene, as chants of “Free Scottie” rang out following tee shots and during walks to the green. Even so, his game remained typical of the top player in the world. Scheffler thought he mis-hit a few shots and even pointed his club left so as to warn patrons to duck and cover. One of those, a tee shot, landed safely in the fairway. Another, an approach, did the same.

So far this weekend, Scheffler is No. 1 in strokes gained off-the-tee and tee-to-green with members of the afternoon wave yet to finish their round, statistics typical of his play pre-incarceration. He hit 11-of-14 fairways and 12-of-18 greens in regulation. He’s a certainty to be in the last handful of groups sent out on Saturday afternoon, and could even be in the final two pairings.

Fellow stars like Colin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, and Tony Finau will have something to say about Scheffler’s efforts to win his first PGA Championship. So too will some not-as-familiar names like Thomas Detry, Mark Hubbard, and Austin Eckroat.

Of course, the detail that makes this Friday at the year’s second major akin to a scene from a Jenkins novel has a tragic aspect as the incident that resulted in the increased law enforcement presence around the course was due to a fatal traffic accident. Ever gracious, Scheffler made sure to send condolences by name to the family of the deceased.

And those arrest details will matter going forward. Scheffler was arrested for a felony, after all. Because of his stature and in spite of the lack of ‘do you know who I am,’ little is likely to result as far as consequences for the new father. What Scheffler described as a chaotic situation is more likely to be another controversy Louisville has to deal with than something that will stain his record. Scheffler’s lawyer, Steve Romines, already appeared to have a solid grasp on the situation prior to the round.

But those details are part of the story of the world’s No. 1 golfer, looking to win yet another start this season, getting arrested, eating jail food, and shooting a 5-under round to put himself in contention for another major.

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“I was grateful to be able to go out there and compete,” Scheffler said. “It was a nice round of golf. My heart goes out to the family. Outside of that, I’m glad to be out here competing and doing what I love.”

It wasn’t fiction for Scheffler. It was business as usual.

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