Scottie Scheffler Forced to Change Key Club Before PGA Championship
After Rory McIlroy's poor performance at the PGA Championship this weekend, all anyone could talk about was the fact he was forced to change his driver after it was deemed non-conforming following a test before the year's second major teed off.
"We can confirm that the USGA was invited to do club testing at the PGA Championship, at the PGA of America's request. That testing program is consistent with the same level of support that the USGA provides to the PGA Tour and other championships, as part of their regular programs for driver testing," a statement from Kerry Haigh, Chief Championships Office, PGA of America said.
Advertisement
"The standard process is for about a third of the field to be randomly tested under the program. That was the case at Quail Hollow this week. Finding driver heads that have crept over the line of conformance is not an unusual occurrence, especially for clubs that are hit thousands of times over a long period of time."
As it turns out, McIlroy wasn't the only one who was forced to change his driver over the weekend. Scottie Scheffler, who ended up winning the tournament by five shots, revealed he, too, was forced to change his driver after it failed inspection before the tournament.
"The driver testing is something that regularly happens on tour," Scheffler said. "My driver did fail me this week. We had a feeling that it was going to be coming because I've used that driver for over a year. I was kind of fortunate for it to last that long, I felt like."
Scheffler's telling admission led to plenty of comments on social media, with some praising his efforts, while others questioned why McIlroy was the storyline.
Advertisement
"But all anyone could talk about all week was Rory's failed compliance test....," one person said.
"The system doesn't even make sense. There's no punishment for non conforming drivers, so what's stopping players from exploiting equipment? What incentive do they have to change drivers if they know their face is too thin? Seems like malpractice from USGA & PGA of America," questioned another.
"Well I guess people can be quiet about Rory now and stop calling him a cheater, sheesh. And congrats to Scottie on a great win. A very deserving champion," added a third.
Scheffler went on to suggest that the PGA Tour needs more robust testing of drivers to make the playing field level for all.
Advertisement
"I would argue that if we're going to test the drivers, we need to be even more robust in the way we test them," Scheffler said. "That was a conversation I had with one of the rules officials; if it's something we're going to take seriously, I feel like we're almost going halfway with it right now.
"If we're going to test only a third of the field, if we're going to do it right, leave it up to us as players, like the rest of the rules in the game of golf are."
Related: Scottie Scheffler, Wife Announced Big Personal News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Burns leads as Scheffler and McIlroy make US Open cut
US Open round two leaderboard -3 Burns (US); -2 Spaun (US); -1 Hovland (Nor), E Scott (Aus), Griffin (US); +1 Perez (Fra), Lawrence (RSA); +2 Koepka (US), Henley (US), Detry (Bel), SW Kim (Kor) Selected: +3 Hatton (Eng); +4 MacIntyre (Sco), Scheffler (US), Morikawa (US), Rahm (Spa), Rai (Eng); +5 Spieth (US); +6 McIlroy (NI), Wallace (Eng), Schauffele (US); +7 Canter (Eng), Fitzpatrick (Eng) Advertisement Cut: +8 Aberg (Swe); +9 Fleetwood (Eng); +10 Thomas (US); +14 Rose (Eng); +17 Lowry (Ire) Full leaderboard America's Sam Burns hit a sensational five-under 65 to seize the lead on three under on an attritional second day at the US Open. Only three players out of a field of 156 are under par at the halfway stage with Burns making six birdies and just one bogey in a morning round that looked better as the day progressed. Overnight leader JJ Spaun, who was the only player to go bogey-free in round one, hit a two-over 72 and is second on two under, while Norway's Viktor Hovland is one under after a 68. Advertisement The glacial pace of play and arrival of a late storm meant 13 players were unable to complete their second rounds and will return to do so on Saturday. The world's top two players Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy were among those battling to make the weekend and both did enough to make the cut, which is projected to be seven over and will see the top 60 and ties play the final two rounds. US PGA Championship winner Scheffler scrapped to a 71, mixing four birdies with five bogeys to finish on four over par, seven shots off the lead. "With the way I was hitting it, it was easily a day I could have been going home and I battled pretty hard to stay in there," he said. Advertisement "Around this golf course, I don't think by any means I'm out of the tournament." As for McIlroy, he recovered from a nightmare start where he double-bogeyed two of his first three holes to shoot a 72, birdieing the last to finish at six over par. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau is heading home though after a round that included eight bogeys and a double bogey left him 10 over. More problems for world's top two on difficult Friday Three wins in his past four starts had seen Scheffler installed as clear favourite to add the US Open to his growing collection of major titles. Advertisement But this tournament cares little for reputation – and the world's top ranked player has not won it since Tiger Woods in 2008. Scheffler, who started at three over, holed a 20-foot birdie putt at his first (the 10th). But his day started to unravel with three bogeys in five holes. He found a bounce-back birdie at the second (his 11th) but smashed his club on the ground in frustration after driving his ball into the huge 'Church Pews' bunker down the left of the third fairway. So often admired for his relaxed composure, it was a further sign all was not right with the Olympic champion's game. Advertisement However he did find birdies at the fourth and sixth in order to shoot one over par for his round, a score beaten by only 12 other players, before heading to the range for two hours to practice. As for McIlroy, after plummeting to eight over par after just three holes, he flirted with the cut line for the rest of his round, draining a 32-foot birdie putt on Oakmont's hardest hole, the ninth, to stay afloat. Another birdie from 20 feet at the 15th inched him to seven over par but frustration was never far away. He threw a club in anger on the 12th fairway and after a ragged drive at the 17th, he destroyed a tee marker. But he made a three at the last, allowing a relieved smile to pass his lips, although he again bypassed speaking to the media. Burns and Hovland make bid for first major title While the field toiled on a day for golfing purists, Burns proved Oakmont could be tamed by making a mockery of its grisly challenge. Advertisement Sensational from tee to green, he actually missed decent opportunities down the stretch to add to his 11 birdies over the first two rounds before holing a 22-foot putt to save par at the final hole. If he continues with his usually reliable putting stroke - he is first on the PGA Tour this season for strokes gained on the greens - he will be well placed to fight for his maiden major title. Another in that bracket is Hovland who, playing alongside Scheffler, lit up the front nine with some excellent iron play. Ranked first for strokes gained around the green in round two, the 2023 Tour Championship winner reached three under with a majestic 55-foot chipped eagle from the rough on the 17th (his eighth). Advertisement A slightly erratic back nine that featured two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey saw him post a 68. South Africa's Thriston Lawrence, who stormed two shots clear on six under after three successive birdies early in his round, followed that with a run of six bogeys and a double bogey across nine holes as he dropped back to one over. And just as he was standing over a four-foot par putt on his last hole, six hours and six minutes after he teed off, the horn sounded to suspend play. 'One of stupidest things I've done' - Oakmont rattles leading lights Two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka has shown glimpses of his impressive major-winning credentials but was scrappy in a round of 74 to drop to two over par. Advertisement Two shots further behind, the 2021 champion Jon Rahm saw his challenge falter, having impressed on day one. Starting the round three off the lead, he followed three bogeys on his first nine with a penal double bogey at the 12th to drop to four over par, with his sole birdie arriving at the fourth. To compound his frustration, he saw a series of birdie chances slide by during his closing holes before a bogey at the last left him seven shots off the lead. "I'm too mad to put it into perspective," he said afterwards. At least Rahm made the cut. DeChambeau was a shadow of the player who stormed to victory at Pinehurst last June as his title defence faded with a whimper. Advertisement Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and England's Tommy Fleetwood are also heading home, finishing at eight over and nine over respectively. And Ireland's Shane Lowry closed on 17 over par, after a round which featured a penalty shot for picking up his ball without marking it on the 14th green. "Maybe my mind was somewhere else," laughed Lowry when recounting the bizarre incident to BBC Sport. "It's one of the stupidest things I've done." Six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson, who suggested this may be his last US Open, missed a birdie putt on the last to to end up on the wrong side of the cut line. Advertisement Meanwhile, France's Victor Perez had a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth and a triple-bogey eight in a level-par 70 that kept him at one over and inside the top 10.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Snakes & turtles, oh my! Animals making presence known at PGA Championship
Shaun Micheel watches his approach shot the on the first fairway during the 2024 PGA Championship golf tournament. Friday at the 2025 PGA Championship in Charlotte, NC, Micheel's encounter with a snake during his second round is being widely shared on social media. Shaun Micheel thought his ball was getting eaten — at best, just chomped up like a Tic Tac — which would have made for quite a ruling. One could imagine the scene: A rules official walking up, asking what's the matter, and Micheel having to explain that a snake slithered across the fairway and gobbled up his golf ball. Friday, at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Micheel hit a 182-yard layup to the right side of the 10th fairway and, well, something got to Micheel's ball before he did — a long black snake, twisting through the grass. 'I don't know what it was? A king snake?' Micheel said. 'My ball was in the place he wanted to be. We had a guy come over and kind of shoo him away, but the snake was in no hurry.' Advertisement Micheel — who won the 2003 PGA Championship, earning a lifetime exemption into the tournament — was playing this week with his son, Dade, as his caddie. Dade was a few months from being born when his dad lifted the Wanamaker Trophy, but is now inside the ropes. He was walking just behind his dad on the 10th fairway when they saw the snake. Micheel waved his glove at the reptile and stepped back. Then a tournament employee walked over. 'He kicked it and then the thing turned around,' Dade said, still a little perplexed the employee was that comfortable. 'It was a decent-sized snake.' It came in a week when animals have been a part of the story at Quail Hollow. Especially for Micheel. Thursday, his group was halted for a little while on the 14th hole because a turtle had damaged a bunker and the grounds crew needed a minute to rake it back to perfection. Advertisement 'They're big,' Micheel said of the turtles. On the same hole, Ryan Gerard hit a chip that rolled over the green and was halted because of a turtle. Was it the same turtle? Maybe. If so, he's a star. 'It was a Mother Nature week,' Micheel said. What Micheel was quick to point out about his wildlife encounter was the good fortune that followed. When the snake was whisked away ('It kind of just went off into the rough,' Micheel said. 'It's probably out there somewhere.') he hit his 144-yard approach shot to inside 12 feet and sank the birdie putt. Then he made a birdie on No. 11 — his final two red numbers in a tournament where he finished 8-over and missed the cut. Advertisement 'There was a guy following me,' Micheel said, 'and he goes, 'Man, you need that snake on every hole.' And I said, 'Well, bring him along.'' The clip of his turtle encounter was a hit on social media. Outside the clubhouse after the round, Dade pulled out his phone, went to X and watched the video with his dad. 'That's hilarious,' Dade said. 'That is so funny.' 'I've got that.' Micheel added.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Wyndham Clark Loses Temper, Goes Berserk in U.S. Open Locker Room
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Oakmont Country Club has never been kind to golfers, and the 125th U.S. Open proved no different. The course's brutal setup left even the best players frustrated. Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, missed the cut after a 10-over finish. Shane Lowry, who had already made headlines for his hot-mic F-bomb, struggled through Rounds 1 and 2, ultimately failing to advance. And then there was Phil Mickelson, who quietly exited after posting 8-over, possibly bidding farewell to the U.S. Open. But while disappointment was widespread, no one took their frustration out on Oakmont's loker room—except Wyndham Clark, allegedly. CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 19: Wyndam Clark hits a tee shot during the Pro-Am prior to the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 19, 2024 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by)... CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 19: Wyndam Clark hits a tee shot during the Pro-Am prior to the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 19, 2024 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by) More Getty Images Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, had a rough week. He carded consecutive rounds of 74, missing the cut by a single stroke with a bogey on his final hole. His frustration boiled over, and according to reports, he trashed the locker room at Oakmont Country Club. NUCLR GOLF shared images from inside the dressing room, showing broken lockers and scattered debris. Without context, the scene looked like a break-in, but it was Clark who had allegedly damaged the venue. 🚨🥾🚪 #NEW: Wyndham Clark allegedly damaged several lockers in the change room at Oakmont Country Club following a missed cut, per @TronCarterNLU. Additionally, Clark recently destroyed a T-mobile sign at the PGA Championship not long ago. Is this behaviour acceptable? — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 15, 2025 Tron Carter of the "No Laying Up" podcast confirmed the incident, posting on X: "Multiple sources confirming that the Blow Pig really got after it in the Oakmont locker room. Super classy, desecrating one of the most historic spots in golf AND on the heels of his behavior at Quail Hollow. Probably time to put him in the cooler for a few months." Clark's temper has been an issue before. Just last month, he smashed a T-Mobile sign at the PGA Championship after a poor drive. He later apologized, admitting, "My actions were uncalled for and completely inappropriate. I hold myself to a high standard, and yesterday I fell short of those standards." Wyndham Clark under fire Fans weren't letting this latest outburst slide. The comment section on Carter's post was filled with outrage. "That's a historical locker room too, I'd ban him from ever playing there again," one fan wrote. Another demanded action: "He should be suspended. Imagine being a guest at a club and doing that after the round." Comparisons were drawn to Rory McIlroy, who had destroyed a tee marker on the 17th hole after a failed drive. Some fans argued that Clark's behavior was worse, calling him "immature" and suggesting a three-month suspension. Others pointed out that Scottie Scheffler had also damaged the fairway in frustration during Round 1, fueling calls for stricter discipline across the Tour. With Round 4 set to begin Sunday morning, all eyes will be on the final showdown. Sam Burns leads at 4-under, with Adam Scott and J.J. Spaun one shot back. But for Clark, the tournament is over—and the fallout from his actions is just beginning. More Golf: Scottie Scheffler's U.S. Open Hopes Staring at Historic Difficulty
