Will Zalatoris 'critical' of US PGA setup after Scottie Scheffler arrest
PGA Tour Will Zalatoris slams the entry setup of the US PGA at Valhalla, which led to a fatality and Scottie Scheffler being arrested.
Will Zalatoris believes the PGA of America should have 'held off play for four or five hours' on Friday due to a fatality that caused a traffic backup for everyone heading into Valhalla for the second round of the US PGA Championship.
Second round tee times were pushed back by 80 minutes on Friday morning following news that a man who was working on site at Valhalla had lost his life after being struck by a shuttle bus.
The incident happened at around 5am.
Just over an hour later, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was then detained by police after he misunderstood the traffic flow situation heading into Valhalla following the fatal collision.
He was sent to jail after being charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals.
Scheffler was booked in to his jail cell at 7.28am and then released at 8.40am.
The American was then picked up by the owner of Valhalla GC and returned to the course just after 9am, which gave him just over an hour to get prepared for his second round.
Scheffler admitted to doing his 'pre-round warmups' while inside his jail cell.
He went on to shoot a very respectable 66 to move him up to 9-under par and just three shots off the pace heading into the weekend.
Scheffler is going in search of back-to-back major titles and a fifth win in his last six starts on the PGA Tour.
Check out all these links below for more on Scheffler's specific situation:
- Scottie Scheffler pictured in handcuffs
- First look: Scottie Scheffler's mugshot
- Watch: Scottie Scheffler arrives at US PGA after shocking arrest
- Scottie Scheffler breaks silence after golfer arrested and charged
- Tickets for US PGA rise in price after Scheffler arrest
- 'Didn't think I'd make it' Scheffler on race from jail cell to Route 66
While all the morning drama was unfolding for Scheffler, other players such as Will Zalatoris were being forced to walk two miles - as a result of the traffic jam outside Valhalla - just so they could get to the course in time for them to tee it up in the second round.
Zalatoris admits it took him over two hours to get inside the gates, and it caused him to fall behind in his pre-round preparation.
The Athletic's Gabby Herzig tweeted: "Just spoke to Will Zalatoris who says he walked two miles to make it to the course this morning with Cam Young and Austin Eckroat.
"Took them over two hours to make it inside the gates. Was very critical of the set-up for entry this week—he even told his parents on Monday not to come because it was such a mess."
Zalatoris told Herzig: "I’m not happy I was proven right."
When pressed for comment by ESPN's Marty Smith as to whether 80 minutes was really enough of a delay for the second round tee times following the fatality, Zalatoris shook his head in complete disagreement.
Zalatoris felt a suspension of at least four to five hours should have been called as soon as the PGA of America became aware of the fatality.
A longer delay to the tee times would have also meant the players had the same time they would normally have to prepare for tournament rounds, especially at a major championship.
"Instead, you have Scottie weaving in and out of traffic cones trying to get to the golf course, and now the World No. 1 is arrested," Zalatoris told Smith.
Zalatoris went on to card a 68 in the end to make the cut by several shots on 3-under par.
But that is way off the 36-hole pace, which is currently set by Xander Schauffele who also posted a 68 to move it to 12-under par.
NEXT PAGE: Cop to Scheffler - "You want the full experience?"
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