No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, No. 3 Xander Schauffele blast PGA over ‘mud balls’
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Scottie Scheffler, of the US, lines up putts on the 10th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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CHARLOTTE – Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Xander Schauffele blasted PGA Championship rules preventing players from cleaning balls that land on the fairway at rain-soaked Quail Hollow on May 15, after struggling through their opening rounds.
In the feature group of the world’s three top-ranked players, Scheffler battled to a two-under 69, world No. 3 Schauffele fired a 72 and second-ranked Rory McIlroy shot a 74 in his first Major round after winning April’s Masters.
The PGA of America said on May 14 it would not use preferred lies to allow players to lift, clean and place balls despite 12cm of rain dumped on the course in recent days.
So, when mud adhered to the balls of Scheffler and Schauffele on the fairway at the par-four 16th hole and each man’s approach found a watery grave on the way to double-bogey, they were unhappy.
“Had a ridiculous mud ball there on 16 with Scottie. We were in the middle of the fairway and we had to aim right of the grandstands,” said Schauffele.
“I aimed right of the bunker and it whipped in the water and Scottie whipped it in the water as well.
“A lot of guys are dealing with it, but it’s just unfortunate to be hitting good shots and to pay them off that way. It’s kind of stupid.”
Scheffler, who said he was not surprised at the preferred-lies decision, suffered his first career double-bogey in the first round of a Major, adding: “It’s frustrating to hit the ball in the middle of the fairway and get mud on it and have no idea where it’s going to go.
“I understand it’s part of the game, but there’s nothing more frustrating for a player. You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball and due to a rules decision, you have no control over where that golf ball goes.”
McIlroy, who did not find the 16th fairway, made double-bogey as well.
While they struggled, Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas used a late birdie blitz to grab his first career lead at a Major.
He stormed up the leaderboard with five birdies over his final six holes for a seven-under 64 that left him two shots clear of Australian Cam Davis and little-known American Ryan Gerard.
Xander Schauffele, of the United States, waves to the crowd after making a birdie on the eighth hole, during the first round of the PGA Championship
PHOTO: AFP
“I got lucky that I was able to tee off very late and the course obviously is drying very quick,” Vegas said after becoming the first Venezuelan to hold the lead or co-lead at a Major.
“So I was able to take advantage a little bit of those conditions at the end of the day today.” AFP, REUTERS
