Scottie Scheffler wasn’t arrested Friday — but he wasn’t safe from Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman.
One day before the one-year anniversary of Scheffler being shortly jailed due to a traffic incident before the PGA Championship’s second round, the cracks came as the world No. 1 arrived for this year’s second round. The moratorium on joking on such matters apparently had passed.
As Scheffler walked into the clubhouse at Quail Hollow Club, Nantz and Immelman, the announcers on the ESPN+ broadcast, had the following exchange:
Said Nantz: “And look who arrives. A quiet Friday arrival for Scottie Scheffler.”
Said Immelman: “But really, when you look at the leaderboard, look at his position, after a two-under 69 to start, he’s in good position right there. But you got to get that credential on. You don’t want to get pulled over at all.”
Said Nantz: “No. Nothing’s guaranteed. So he’s made it all the way to the clubhouse unscathed. And what you’re trying to say is he’s in a pretty good position the way this is shaping up.”
Immelman: “Absolutely. I love his position. And I know I’ve said it a few times already since we’ve been on. With these greens starting to get this spicy, this firm, his control, which is his strength, is really going to play into his hands.”
During Thursday’s first round, Scheffler shot a two-under 69, which put him five back of leader Jhonattan Vegas. A year ago, following his arrest, Scheffler shot a five-under 66 and, two days later, finished in a tie for eighth.
As for his case? A few weeks later, the charges were dropped.
Editor’s note: ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington witnessed Scheffler’s arrest, and GOLF’s James Colgan relived the moment with Darlington. You can read Colgan’s story by clicking here.
