A morning of mayhem that made Scottie the big story
POLICE RAP IS MAKING OF HIM
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER went from getting arrested outside the gates of Valhalla Golf Club to birdieing his opening hole in a little over four bizarre hours yesterday.
And the world No.1 became an unlikely hero even quicker.
The Masters champion walked onto the 10th tee to start his second round to huge applause and cries of “Free Scottie”. In a mad week in Louisville, Rory is no longer the story.
And the police mugshot of the Texan wearing an orange jump suit showed the best player in the world is the new OJ Simpson as well as Tiger Woods.
A morning of chaos and confusion started with a hospitality worker sadly killed by a shuttle bus outside the course at 5am.
Police closed Shelbyville Road – the main approach road – and traffic stacked up. With his original tee time at 8.48am, Scheffler entered the middle lane to try to enter Valhalla at 6.01am.
According to the Louisville Metro Police report, the American refused to stop and caused injuries to Detective Bryan Gillis, which required hospital treatment, though the police report noted: Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80, were damaged beyond repair.”
ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington captured the scenes as the world No.1 was handcuffed and frogmarched in his shorts and T-shirt into a police car, with one officer telling him: “There’s nothing you can do. He’s going to jail.” Scheffler was taken to a police station where he was charged, processed and released before arriving back at the golf course at 9.12am.
He was in time as all tee times were pushed back 80 minutes because of the traffic gridlock which caused Will Zalatoris and Cam Young to walk to the course.
After a quick bite to eat, Scheffler strode out on to the range at 9.35am to hit balls in front of a circus of media and fans. Other players looked on in wonder with one coach telling me: “It’s crazy. Anyone but him.”
Former world No.1 David Duval, left, agreed. “If there is a person in sports you would think this is not going to happen to, it’s him.” It is true. Until yesterday, Scheffler’s only crime for the press has been his dullness. After his second Masters win last month, he said: “My buddies told me this morning my victory was secure on the cross.”
Now he is the new people’s champion and media darling. He arrived on the 10th tee at 10.03am as a returning hero. “Scottie, Scottie” was chanted by a huge crowd gathered in the pouring rain.
For his first hole as a father on Thursday, he had holed a nine-iron from 167 yards for an eagle to warm applause. For his first as a felon yesterday, he pushed his drive right into the rough, clipped his wedge from 92 yards to two feet and rolled in the birdie putt to roars.
No one will ever look at Scottie Scheffler in the same way again.