News

Scheffler’s Arrest – A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Published

1 month ago

May 23, 2024

Nobody had “#1 Ranked Golfer in the World, Scottie Scheffler Arrested as He Attempted to Drive into the Parking Lot at Valhalla Friday Morning” on their 2024 PGA Championship bingo card. It’s now seven days later and we have been provided with two videos of the incident and learned some details of the facts that led to this remarkable event. Based upon our review of videos, statements made by witnesses, statements made by the Mayor of Louisville and information obtained from a source within the Louisville Metro Police Department, the following is a summary of what we know so far.

At approximately 5:00 AM retiree John Mills, a volunteer working security for the event, was tragically struck and killed near “Entrance One” to the property by a shuttle bus. As a result of the investigation into this fatal accident, traffic was bottlenecked leading to the course and round 2 tee times had already been delayed by the PGA of America.

Police officers already assigned to the event had set up a check point approximately one mile from the parking lot entrance. They instructed those with certain credentials (competitors, caddies, tournament officials and media members) on the procedure to enter the grounds. Multiple competitors and media members confirmed this and stated that following these instructions they were able to and did in fact enter the parking lot that Scheffler was attempting to access. The dash cam footage provided at noon today confirms these facts. Countless cars and a few buses travelled “the wrong” way and successfully made the left hand from the “improper lane” to turn into the property.

Sources inside the Louisville Police Department had previously informed us that the officers assigned to the Championship are golfers and fans and were specifically selected to work the event. They also stated Detective Gillis is a member of the Highway Division and was at the scene solely due to the earlier fatality.

Pursuant to Louisville PD regulations, officers involved in police activities are required to wear an active body camera. Many had surmised that this footage would provide the evidence necessary to resolve precisely what occurred Friday morning. We now know that Detective Gillis DID NOT have the required body camera running during the interaction with Scheffler.

“The officer did not have bodycam footage turned on during the incident. We will release the footage that we have” stated Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. Sources have indicated that Gillis, with 13 prior reprimands on his record, has been “given time off” following the incident. Mayor Greenberg, at a press conference today, both released PD findings that Detective Gillis failed to comply with applicable regulations and that he had been disciplined for this failure.

Following the conference, the Louisville Metro PD release on its YouTube channel two video of the incident. One is from a pole located across the road from the entrance and the other is of a police dash cam from a vehicle facing the entrance. While acknowledging that other videos exist, Mayor Greenberg stated that those videos would not be released until subsequent to the conclusion of legal proceedings at the request of the prosecutor’s office.

The Pole Camera

Situated on a pole across from the entrance to Valhalla, the brief footage shows stopped traffic and the general scene. The video provided begins shortly prior to the incident and ends with Scheffler’s arrest.

Primarily blocked by a bus, it is impossible to see the initial interaction (if any) between the parties. When Scheffler’s vehicle comes into view, its travelling slowly and makes a left turn into the entrance. What we surmise is the officer in question is seen jogging behind and to the left of the car and we see him take a 45 degree angle to reach the side of the vehicle where he proceeds to strike the driver’s side window with a flashlight. Upon the window being struck, Scheffler immediately stops. There is an exchange and it appears the officer reaches into the window. The door is opened and Scheffler is pulled out and throw against the car.

Dash Cam Footage

The provided footage from the dashcam is significantly longer than the pole cam. It also clearly demonstrates the conditions that existed leading up to and at the time of the incident. The area in front of the entrance is controlled chaos. Police vehicles everywhere and zero traffic moving. With one exception. For the better part of an hour preceding the incident, cars and buses are moving in the “wrong” lane and making left hand turns into the entrance. (Which as discussed above, they were told to do by the officers manning the checkpoint a mile from the entrance).

Immediately prior to Scottie arriving at the scene, a bus makes half a left turn into the entrance and stops. We can see that a number of persons (presumed to be officers and/or private security) approach the driver’s side window. After a few moments they walk away and we see the bus driver exit the bus. Moments later (after the persons who had been standing in the road next to the bus move out of the way) we see Scheffler begin to slowly move forward to make the left turn. Neither video shows the officer violently precipitated to the ground causing the injuries claimed or the catastrophic $80 worth of damage to his pants.

What Happens Next?

Scheffler’s arraignment, previously scheduled for this week, was adjourned to June 3rd over the objection of the prosecuting attorney. Both sides have issued statements that there will be no plea bargain reached. Either the case will be dismissed or we will get to see the golf “trial of the century” in the coming months. In the meantime, Scheffler teed it up this afternoon in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Fort Worth.

News

Scheffler Wins 6th Title of Year at Travelers

Ending Marred by Environmental Protestors

Published

2 days ago

June 24, 2024

John McGrath

Scottie Scheffler continued his white hot 2024 season on Sunday winning the Travelers Championship, the final Signature Event of the 2024 PGA Tour Season. The title, his sixth of the season, makes him the fourth to win 6x on Tour in the last 40 years joining Tiger Woods (6x), Vijay Singh and Nick Price. He is the first golfer to win 6x on the Tour prior to July 1st since Arnold Palmer accomplished the feat in 1962.

Scheffler’s win concluded a dramatic week that saw Cameron Young on Saturday become the 13th player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59 in competition in a round where he eagled 2 par 4’s. Young started his final round making birdie on his first four holes. Tom Hoge made 8 birdies on Sunday to finish solo 3rd. At one point on the back nine 5 golfers were tied for the lead. Rounds 2 and 3 saw lengthy weather delays with 3 spectators injured by lightning on Saturday. Tom Kim, who turned 22 on Friday, led the field at the end of each of the first three rounds and found himself on the 18th green one stroke behind Scheffler needing a birdie to force a playoff.

Protestors Delay the 72nd Hole

Things turned chaotic on the 18th green as Scheffler, Kim and Ashkay Bhatia were lining up their putts. Six members of a radical environmental group, Extinction Rebellion NYC, stormed the course from various directions. The protestors ran thru a bunker and onto the green throwing paint onto the green surface. Officers of the Cromwell Police Department quickly tackled and subdued each of the intruders.

While it is difficult to know what was going through Scheffler’s head as he saw all the police running onto the course in his general direction, Bhatia was very specific about his reaction. “I was scared for my life. I didn’t even really know what was happening. I was in shock and my heart rate was high. It got low and then once that kind of happened I was just freaked out, I just tried [to] get over where everyone was.”

As a result of the paint on the green, Bhatia with the assistance of a Rules Official had to relocate his mark to an area where the paint was not in his line of play. A birdie would have made him solo 4th. He two putted to finish T-5.

Scheffler putting from the right fringe missed his birdie opportunity, tapped in for par and awaited Kim’s birdie try. Kim rolled his uphill 9 footer and confidently walked it into the cup for a tying birdie.

Due to the damage caused by the environmental extremists, the Tournament Committee decided to move the hole location to the front right of the green, just over a bunker. In an almost anti-climactic finish, on the 73 hole Scottie reached the green in two while Kim came up short finding himself with a buried lie in the bunker. His bunker shot ended well past the hole and he wasn’t able to complete the up and down for par. Scheffler easily 2 putted to take home his sixth trophy this year.

News

Golf’s Longest Day

Published

3 weeks ago

June 4, 2024

John McGrath

Sectional qualifying day for the US Open, often referred to as “Golf’s Longest Day,” never disappoints for providing drama and great highs and lows. The 2024 iteration lived up to the hype. We saw the longest majors played streak potentially come to an end. Amateurs beating PGA Tournament winners and LIV stars. Pros who have toiled on mini-tours for years finally earning a ticket to shine on golf’s biggest stage.

Yesterday’s Sectional Qualifiers took place at 10 sites throughout the US and Canada. There were a total of 672 competing for 44 spots in the field at Pinehurst. The number of qualifiers per site varied by the strength of the field as determined by the USGA.

Adam Scott’s 91 Consecutive Major Streak in Jeopardy

Ranked 60th in the world and not in the field this week for the Memorial (any golfer ranked in the top 60 at the completion of this week’s tournaments not otherwise in the field is given an invitation), Adam Scott teed it up at Springfield Country Club in Ohio as one of 64 players competing for four spots. Scott finished at 7 under in a tie with fellow Aussie Cam Davis (ranked 66th) for the fourth and final qualifying spot. Scott chipped in for birdie on the first playoff hole only to watch Davis roll in a putt for birdie to keep the playoff going. Davis defeated his childhood hero to take the final spot. Scott’s streak that began in 2001 may end unless he somehow remains in the top 60 of the world ranking or makes it into the field as an alternate.

LIV Golf League Disappoints

19 LIV Golf League members attempted to qualify for Pinehurst. Only 3 succeeded. Dean Burmester qualified in Florida and David Puig earned medalist honors at Lake Merced in California. Recently touted as “the best golfer in the world” Joaquin Niemann finished one stroke off the pace and was defeated by 3 amateurs at the Bear Club in Florida.

Higgs Continues His Hot Play

Harry Higgs won the final the final spot at the Duke University Course. In a playoff. This continues his run that began with Monday qualifying into a Korn Ferry Tour event that he went on to win in a playoff. He followed that win with a second consecutive playoff win on the KFT before earning his place in the field at Pinehurst.

Dreams Realized

A number of NCAA students were among those who achieved their dream of entry into the US Open. Among those was FSU standout Luke Clanton who earned one of the 7 spots available in Florida. “Making the first US Open is pretty sweet. I’m pretty excited.”

“Its about damn time.” The emotional words of John Chin who will be playing in his first major next week. “The last couple of years have been a grind. I’m super excited and happy.”

One of the more interesting amateurs who earned their way into the championship is Colin Prater, a high school teacher and golf coach from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Prater was an All-American in college who chose not to pursue a professional golf career and instead was drawn to teaching and coaching high school students.

LPGA

The U.S. Women’s Open*

Published

4 weeks ago

June 1, 2024

John McGrath

The asterisk isn’t because Talor Gooch was not given a special invitation by the United States Golf Association. It is not because world #1 Nelly Korda failed to make the cut after taking a disastrous 10 on the par 3 12th early Thursday. Rather, Asterisk Talley is this week’s teenager shining on the big stage of professional golf.

With rounds of 70 and 71, the 15-year-old enters the weekend sitting T-5, just 5 shots off the lead held by Thai golfer Wichanee Meechai. Asterisk (“little starr” in Greek) earned her spot in the field by shooting 5 under in the Fresno, California qualifier. (One of only 2 spots available). Earlier this season, she finished 8th in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and, along with Sarah Lim, won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

The 15 year old high school freshman has been both a pleasure to watch on the course and has been the darling of the press tent. She has answered every question directly, usually with a smile on her face. Her goal this week was initially “to make the cut.” After her one over second round on Friday that goal shifted to “being low amateur, a goal I think I can still obtain.” Asterisk, when asked her thoughts on the experience at her first major, “I’m having the best time of my life.” In a week where 29 year old Lexi Thompson has likely played her last round in her 18th U.S. Women’s Open, Asterisk will hopefully take the advice that Lexi would have told her 12 year old self, “always have fun. Remember its just a game and enjoy all the moments.”

“I Shot 68”

During the 2nd round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s UNC Health Championship, Kevin Velo followed up a first round 1 over 71 with a 2 under 68. Below is his second round scorecard: