The world of golf is never uneventful, wouldn’t you agree? Imagine a gloomy, overcast, and downpour day in Kentucky during the 106th US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. What might Muhammad Ali, famously known as The Lip, make of it? On such a day, Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top golfer underwent a dramatic experience before setting off on his quest for the Wanamaker Trophy.
Scheffler, fresh on the golf circuit yet dealing with the whirlwind experience of fatherhood for the first time, encountered what he termed a “miscommunication” with the Louisville Metro police as he tried to navigate a traffic block on his way to the club early in the morning. Consequently, he found himself in a peculiar situation where he was handcuffed, taken to the city centre for a photograph in prison attire and was levied with charges, including one felony and three misdemeanors, setting himself up for a future court date.
Let’s talk about the timing of the happenings. An unrelated unfortunate accident claiming a life had transpired on the same road at 5.09am local time when a pedestrian was hit by a shuttle bus Scheffler, four hours before his scheduled tee-off, ran into trouble with the law while seeking a detour at 6.01am. Once the police engagement was concluded, he returned to the club at 9.18am and began his tee-off at 10.08am.
The ability to segment your personal challenges from your game, known as compartmentalisation, has become a trending topic in sports. Just like Rory McIlroy, who launched a divorce process the week prior but still managed to zero in on his golf, Scheffler took the notion to a whole new extent. However, upon taking up his golf clubs, he was unwavered in maintaining his strong run, propelling himself as a contender for an additional major title.
Thus, Scottie Scheffler began his tee-off at Valhalla a few hours following his unwarranted arrest. Considering what he suffered, it’s unlikely anyone will dub the world number one golfer ‘uninteresting’ again.
Following a hearty breakfast of eggs and a few tips from his longtime coach Randy Smith, Scheffler arrived at his starting point on the 10th tee. His entry was met with loud cheers and support, similar to the kind of claps Tiger Woods used to get from his fans. Once on the course, he played with the same discipline and focus that has won him four of his last five tournaments, including the Masters, undeterred by the admiration.
From one tee to the other, Scheffler displayed his dominance, starting with a birdie on the par five 10th. He was determined and attentive, exactly as his coach had advised, posting a score of 66 which, with his inaugural 67, left him trailing behind clubhouse leader, Collin Morikawa, by two shots.
However, Scheffler wasn’t oblivious to the unfortunate road accident that recently took place. He revealed his heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family in a post-round interview, saying he couldn’t fathom the pain they were enduring. He expressed remorse but declared that the matter would surely be resolved. Despite the sombre news, Scheffler was able to juggle his emotions and concentrate his attention on scoring and staying on par.
While it was raining heavily, but without a hint of a storm, Morikawa posted a score of 65. Culminating with a string of five consecutive birdies, Morikawa finished with a total of 11-under-par 131, which positioned him as the clubhouse leader, in front of both Scheffler and Belgium’s Thomas Detry by two strokes.
Shane Lowry initiated his championship on a weak note last Thursday, consecutively scoring bogeys in his first two holes. Despite this, his superb recovery saw him open with a 69 and duplicate this score in the second round, achieving four birdies and two bogeys. Hence, he concluded the mid point with 138, making it to the top 20, and moving forward to the weekend with high hopes for himself.
Meanwhile, two-time major victor, Morikawa, has been in good form since winning the Covid-19 impacted Harding Park tournament, where he was awarded the Wanamaker Trophy in 2020, and securing a Claret Jug the following year. During the round, he performed exceptionally from the fourth (which was his 13th hole) with five consecutive birdies, before a bogey on the last hole. Ultimately, he landed in the leading position at the clubhouse, with opportunities to increase his major titles.
Regarding his potential for winning more major events, Morikawa commented that confidence was key, noting that he has had faith in his capabilities from the outset. To him, it was not a question of if he would win again — only when. He emphasized that although it was disheartening to lose to Scottie after Augusta and finish poorly, he looked forward to three more Majors with enthusiasm and aimed to perform his best right from the start.
Morikawa is, undoubtedly, in the place he would prefer to be, and Scheffler seems to share this sentiment, along with others.