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:
Statement from Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg
A statement from Mayor Greenberg. pic.twitter.com/Ey0vtgnfqr
— Mayor Craig Greenberg (@LouisvilleMayor) May 17, 2024
Five in a row for Morikawa
Morikawa -12 (17*)
Goodness grief, the American is putting on some show right now. A delightful iron into the par-3 8th leaves him with little more than a kick-in for his fifth straight birdie.
He’s now up to -12 and three clear of overnight leader Xander Schauffele who has just got underway for his second round alongside Ludvig Aberg and local lad Justin Thomas.
Hubbard into solo second
Hubbard -10 (13*)
The heavy rain forecast doesn’t appear to have materialised yet and those out there now are making the most of it. Hubbard finds another birdie on the 13th - his second in as many holes - and he’s now up into solo second and one back of Morikawa.
Morikawa extends his lead
Morikawa -11 (16*)
The American is feeling it right now and this marvellous second round shows no signs of slowing down. A superb wedge into the par-5 seventh with just five feet for his fourth successive birdie.
And he makes no mistake. All of a sudden his lead over Schauffele is two. Can he grab any more coming in?
Bounce back from Hubbard
Hubbard -9 (12*)
Impressive response from the American, rolling in a birdie at the par-3 12th to get back to -9 after a bogey the hole prior.
He doesn’t appear to be going anywhere right now.
Great save from Scheffler
Scheffler -8 (14*), Clark E (14*), Harman -2 (14*)
Well, how wrong was I? A difficult chip shot from the rough for Scheffler? He damn nearly holes it!
Remarkable from the American who remains at -8. Harman and Clark make their pars, too.
We have a new leader
Morikawa -10 (15*)
Make that three in a row for the American who marches into a solo lead as he drains a 33-footer on the sixth. The first time in more than in more than 20 hours that we have a new name atop the leaderboard.
Hubbard drops back
Meanwhile, a few holes back it’s Hubbard with a chance to save his par... no, just drifts by.
He drops back to -8 alongside Scheffler but he’ll one suspects he’ll be more than happy to stay there by the end of the day.
Trouble for Scheffler
Scheffler -8 (13*), Clark E (13*), Harman -2 (13*)
Oh, has the World No.1 been caught with his hand in the cookie jar? It’s an aggressive line into the 14th green and his ball doesn’t come back in from the right.
It nestles down in the thick greenside rough to the left of the green and that will take something mighty impressive to get close from there.
Backwards steps for Kim and Rahm
Kim -6 (15*), Rahm +1 (4*)
Differing situations for both players but a pair of bogeys all the same. Kim’s par save comes up just short and he drops back to -6, while Rahm is now over par for the tournament and in serious danger of missing the cut.
The Spaniard needs at least one birdie in his final five holes or he’ll be heading home tonight.
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