Two-time major champion forced out of US PGA Championship

PGA of America confirms two-time major champion John Daly has been forced to WD from the US PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Andy Roberts

17 May 2024

John Daly has been forced to WD from the PGA

Two-time major champion John Daly has been forced to withdraw from the second round of the US PGA at Valhalla.

The PGA of America confirmed Daly, 58, had decided to WD ahead of the second round due to picking up a thumb injury.

Daly opened up with an 11-over 82 in the first round of the US PGA Championship, so he was already going to miss the halfway cut.

John Daly has withdrawn from the 2024 PGA Championship due to a thumb injury. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/DKp04cgzqU
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024

The man aptly named 'The Wild Thing' was eligible to compete in the season's second major due to being a former PGA champion.

Daly etched his name on the Wanamaker Trophy following a three-shot victory at Crooked Stick in 1991.

He also lifted the famous Claret Jug at the 1995 Open Championship at the Home of Golf, St Andrews, after defeating Costantino Rocca in a playoff.

News of Daly's exit came a couple of hours after World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was shockingly arrested at the entrance of the golf club.

Scheffler, 27, was detained after he misunderstood the traffic flow situation following a fatal collision earlier in the morning.

Shocking images showed the World No.1 being frog-marched to the back of a police vehicle.

His arrest was captured in real time by an ESPN reporter.

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Before being whisked away, Scheffler reportedly turned to the journalist and said: "Please help me."

The Louisville Department of Corrections later posted a mugshot of the 27-year-old.

Scheffler was booked in at 7.28am and released at 8.40am.

He was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals.

Scheffler arrived back at Vallhalla Golf Club with 60 minutes to spare before his second round tee time and he told reporters it was all a 'big misunderstanding' that put his life into 'perspective'.

Scheffler, who is bidding to win a second straight major this week, is due to appear in court next Tuesday.

The full police report has now been obtained.

Scheffler was arrested by detective Gillis and, according to the report, had to be taken to hospital after suffering abrasions to his left wrist and knee.

Read the full police report here.

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