Will Zalatoris: Players discussed postponement and cancellation of PGA Championship second round

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A small group of players discussed not playing the second round of the PGA Championship as planned following the death of a pedestrian outside Valhalla Golf Club and the arrest of world number one Scottie Scheffler.

Will Zalatoris detailed the 20-30 minute conversation, which took place in the Valhalla locker room, to a small group of reporters after his tour Friday afternoon. The group of anonymous players considered contacting the PGA of America about the cancellation or delay of Friday’s match, he said.

“Some guys were talking about it and wondering if we should even play today,” Zalatoris said. “At one point there was a group of guys in the locker room talking about going to the PGA of America about it, but I think it was dead in the water in the locker room. It was weird. We just didn’t know…when Scottie was going to come out, no details.

Tee times were delayed an hour and 20 minutes Friday after a shuttle struck and killed John Mills, who worked for a tournament vendor. The PGA has moved early tee times from 7:15 a.m. ET to 8:35 a.m.

Scheffler, who was stopped at the entrance to Valhalla at 6:20 a.m. while trying to avoid traffic, was released at 9:12 a.m. and completed his 10:08 a.m. start time, but had a significantly shortened training routine.

Zalatoris said players were concerned about both Mills’ death and the detention of Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion. The Dallas resident, who has known Scheffler since they were both children, explained how shaken the players were heading into the second round of the championship. He did not name the players who led the group discussion in the locker room.

“The death happened, hey, maybe it was let’s not try to rush this thing. This happened right outside the gates. Let’s push this back about three to four hours and we can catch up this weekend. When it happened with Scottie, we were all in shock and didn’t know what to do, think or say,” Zalatoris said. “Looking back, maybe a four or five hour delay just to let the (Louisville Metropolitan Police) do their business and let them deal with everything that happened because a life was lost and let us enter as normally as possible, and unfortunately the world No. 1 was arrested. It’s the golf world to a T right now. Normal does not exist. »

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(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)