14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Quail Hollow Diary: Orange is the new black as Scottie Scheffler sports jailhouse hues
The nature of these gatherings of the great and good of the sport is that storylines which could otherwise be screaming, bold-red headlines drop down to news in brief territory.
This week marks one year since the world's No.1 golfer was thrown in a Louisville jail cell for a supposed turning infraction at the gates of Valhalla.
The anniversary should arguably be a bigger deal. After all, the lasting image of the 2024 PGA was not Xander Schauffele raising silver but Scottie Scheffler in an orange prison jumpsuit.
It's fair to say Scheffler wouldn't be renowned for his edginess but on the eve of his return to the tournament he broke out a burnt orange T-shirt for his Wednesday tune-up.
The colour-matching to his mugshot attire was uncanny and surely no mere coincidence.
Scottie Scheffler has worn burnt orange twice in the last year.
First was a year ago this week at the Louisville Police Department. The second time is today. He's got to be messing with us — claire rogers (@kclairerogers) May 14, 2025
No fashion faux pas as McIlroy and Harrington raise standards
Speaking of style trends, Tuesday night's Champions Dinner was a bit of a mixed bag, to say the least.
Gathering the past winners at the whitewashed Southern-style clubhouse of Quail Hollow, all columns and Antebellumish verandas, the dress code was evidently not as strict as the Masters feast.
Some dreadfully ill-fitting sports coats were on show and Martin Kaymer looked to be modelling a khaki trench-suit jacket. Jason Day brought typical individuality with a velour terracotta jacket paired with jeans.
Thankfully, Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington tried to raise the standards, in smart, bold blues. Harrington was the only one of the 17 present to have the decency to wear a tie.
Quenching the Quail Hollow thirst pricey business
It's thirsty weather down in these rolling hills of south Charlotte.
The fact that Quail Hollow was once a dairy farm makes sense in terms of four legs being a whole lot more suitable for the place than two.
Traipsing up and down the holes calls for regular refreshment. Luckily the PGA continued to expand their Championship+ tickets which start at $76 which allow patrons free unlimited water, soft drinks and coffee at course concession stands. It does not include alcoholic drinks however.
Those will set you back a nickel or two: a regular-sized domestic beer (watery Bud Light, basically) costs $14.50 or E13. A larger, fancier beer is north of $19. A strong cocktail? $24.50. We'll stick to waters, thanks.
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Unburdened by Masters success, Rory McIlroy wants to enjoy the freedom
No good Charlotte as Irish credentials fade
Charlotte sits comfortably inside the top 20 rankings of American cities by their Irishness, with 8.4% of the population claiming ancestry. That doesn't mean the place is immune to crimes against Irishness though.
A local with a Carolina drawl was desperately trying to get Padraig Harrington's attention near the putting green. His lack of success may have been down to one of the most offensive Yank takes on the Dubliner's first name we've heard: 'Hey Paad-rake…Paad-rake!?'
The besmirching went beyond the confines of Quail Hollow when the Irish press pack decamped to Legion Brewing, a microbrewery near the media hotel.
Their featured pour on Tuesday night: Slainte Nitro Stout, with hints of coffee and marshmallow. Ambassadors have been expelled for less.
