Scheffler able to laugh after arrest at PGA as he focuses on U.S. Open

 

[June 12, 2024]  June 11 (Reuters) - World number one Scottie Scheffler says he is fully focused on the U.S. Open and picking up a sixth win of the season in Pinehurst, North Carolina, having put his arrest at the PGA Championship behind him.

Since March Scheffler has played eight events and won five, including the Masters. On two other occasions he was runner-up.

His worst result in that red hot patch was a tie for eighth at the PGA Championship in Louisville three weeks ago.

He still threatened to win the major even after he was arrested before the second round over a traffic stop involving a police officer at the entrance to the Valhalla Golf Club.

Scheffler was charged on May 17 with four counts, including felony second-degree assault on a police officer. The charges were later dropped.

Like so much else in his life the laid back American has taken everything in his stride, never losing his focus or good nature.

Scheffler said he does not like reliving the incident but also had a chuckle over a viral video parodying the situation.

The video posted on X shows a fan pulling into a parking lot for a tournament in Louisville with a dummy wearing a police uniform dangling from the driver's side window prompting a huge laugh and the comment, "Scottie Scheffler is here today".

"It's kind of hard not to laugh about the guy who did that," Scheffler said with a smile at his press conference on Tuesday. "I didn't see any videos. Xander (Schauffele) did tell me about it yesterday. He got a pretty good kick out of it.

"If all they did was make fun of me, it would be different. It wouldn't be as fun but they're great guys, and they're great friends.

"So you've got to be able to look in the mirror and laugh at yourself, too."

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What Scheffler's fellow golfers are not finding so funny is the roll the 27-year-old is on and which has him as the runaway favourite at Pinehurst No. 2.

In May Scheffler and his wife welcomed their first child into the family and young Bennett was there on Sunday when dad won the Memorial Tournament.

Having a child has changed Scheffler's life and some of his routine but not the results as he emerged from the PGA Championship chaos with a tie for second at the Charles Schwab and then victory at the Memorial.

"All I'm focused on is this week and getting ready to play," explained Scheffler. "Just because I won last week doesn't give me any shots against the field this week.

"I try not to think about the past. I try not to think about the future. I try to live in the present.

"When I'm home I try to be the best husband and father I can be and when I'm out here I try to be the best golfer I can be."

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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