PGA Championship 2024: Xander Schauffele leads after Scottie Scheffler plays on despite arrest
The Masters champion described his arrest outside Valhalla as a ‘big misunderstanding’ as he returned to shoot a five-under 66 and keep himself in contention at the halfway stage
Xander Schauffele maintained a slender lead at the halfway stage of the PGA Championship after a day dominated by the chaotic arrest of Scottie Scheffler in the early hours of Friday morning at Valhalla.
The American had been attempting to make his way to the course ahead of the start of the second round, but was stopped by police over what he later called “a big misunderstanding”.
Scheffler was placed in handcuffs and arrested, before being charged by the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections, with the second round pushed back by an hour and 20 minutes due to the fatal accident.
The 27-year-old was later released by police and produced a sparkling five-under-par 66 to remain in contention for his second major in as many months. The World No.1 sits three shots back of Schauffele who fired a three-under 69 to set the clubhouse lead at -12.
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and fellow American Sahith Theegala sit in contention at -11 and -10 respectively but Rory McIlroy’s bid to end his decade-long major drought stuttered after a disappointing even-par round.
Relive all the action from the second round of the PGA Championship below:
Birdie for MacIntyre
MacIntyre -8 (10*)
The perfect start to the back nine for the Scot as he finds his fourth birdie of the day to move to -8 for the tournament. He’s just four shots off the lead now.
Huge miss for McIlroy
McIlroy -6 (10)
Oh, Rory. That one really could have done with dropping. The Northern Irishman punches out well with his second at the par-5 10th and gives himself a great look at birdie after his wedge in, but his effort from just over seven feet drifts past the cup.
A big chance goes begging there.
Back-to-back birdies for Wallace
Wallace -6 (13*)
The Englishman is sneaking under the radar right now and a second successive birdie - his fifth for the day - means he has shot up to within touching distance of the top ten. Impressive stuff.
Theegala continues to impress
Theegala -9 (7)
It’s been a breakthrough few months for Theegala after his first PGA Tour win late last year and the American has now clearly got his sights set on contending in a major championship.
A bogey-free day so far and his third birdie of the round sees him move into a tie for third at -9.
Schauffele makes bogey; Aberg back to even par
Schauffele -12 (11), Thomas -5 (11), Aberg E (11)
A delicious approach into the par-3 11th from the Swede as he notches up another birdie. The projected cut now sits at -1 so he has more work to do.
It’s not the same outcome for our leader, though, who gets lucky with his leaked tee shots which stays on the fringe but an uncharacteristic three-putt sees him card his first bogey of the week and drop back to -12.
Great par save from McIlroy
McIlroy -6 (9)
Massive, massive putt from Rory. That ninth hole has claimed a number of victims today and it almost did for the Northern Irishman but he saves par superbly after a poor chip with a 25-foot putt.
A huge confidence booster heading into the back nine.
Koepka moving through the field
Koepka -6 (7)
The defending champion fancies the fight at Valhalla and makes no mistake at the par-5 seventh to move to -6. He’s had so many chances already this afternoon and will have plenty more if he keeps playing like this.
Schauffele extends lead
Schauffele -13 (10), Thomas -5 (10), Aberg +1 (10)
The American is on the charge again, recovering from an uncharacteristically wild iron shot to set up a birdie effort after a superb wedge from the trampled-down rough.
Another birdie for the World No.3 and he extends his lead to two at the top. He looks in full control out there.
Thomas and Aberg, meanwhile, miss out on birdies at the par-5. The Swede, in particular, may need to find some birdies sooner rather than later if he’s to make the weekend’s action.
Encouraging run from Hovland
Hovland -6 (7)
A bogey followed from that hole-out eagle on the fourth, but the Norwegian has responded in superb style, finding birdies at both the sixth and par-5 seventh to move just outside the top ten on -6.
McIlroy misses out
McIlroy -6 (8)
A good chance for back-to-back birdies for McIlroy at the par-3 eighth but the effort just passes him by. A somewhat frustrated response from the Northern Irishman and you can perhaps understand why.
Six under through 26 holes of a major championship is very solid and yet he’s six shots back of the lead. It feels like a realistic target would be to get up to that group at -9 with Scheffler by the end of the day.
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