Golfers Ponder Suspension of PGA Championship Play After Tragic Incident

Louisville, Kentucky – May 19, 2023 (Golf Digest)

In the wake of a pedestrian’s death outside Valhalla Golf Club and the arrest of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, a small group of players at the PGA Championship discussed the possibility of suspending Friday’s second round, according to Will Zalatoris.

Zalatoris detailed a 20-30 minute conversation that took place in the Valhalla locker room, where unnamed players considered approaching the PGA of America about cancelling or delaying the day’s play. “Some of the guys were talking about, wondering if we should even play today,” Zalatoris revealed to reporters.

The discussion was prompted by the tragic incident earlier that morning, when a shuttle bus struck and killed a tournament vendor, John Mills, near the course entrance. Additionally, Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, had been arrested at the Valhalla entrance at 6:20 a.m. while navigating traffic congestion, though he was released in time to make his 10:08 tee time.

“The fatality happened, hey it was maybe let’s not try to rush this thing in. It happened right in front of the gates. Let’s push this back three to four hours or something and we can make it up on the weekend,” Zalatoris said. “When it happened with Scottie we were just all shell-shocked and didn’t know what to do or think or say.”

While the players’ discussion ultimately came to nothing, Zalatoris expressed that the unusual circumstances had left the golf world in a state of unease. “This is the world of golf to a T right now. There’s no such thing as normality,” he concluded.

🔗 Source