We haven’t even reached the cut and the 2024 PGA Championship is already one of the most memorable in recent years. Consider all that happened before the second round even teed off on Friday:
- Xander Schauffele shot a 9-under 62 in the first round. That was not only good enough to land him in first place by three strokes, it was tied for the best-ever round in a major championship. By shooting 62, Xander Schauffele tied…Xander Schauffele, who matched that mark at the U.S. Open in 2023.
- Tragedy struck when a pedestrian was hit and killed by a shuttle bus while crossing the street near the entrance to the golf course around 5:00 AM local time.
- Following that accident, world number one Scottie Scheffler was arrested by police and charged with second degree assault on a police officer – a felony – as well as criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic. According to ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, who was present during the time of the incident, “a misunderstanding with traffic flow led to his attempt to drive past a police office.”
- After he was booked, Scheffler released the following statement to Darlington about his arrest: “This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers. It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do. I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective.”
- Despite his arrest, Scheffler was able to make his 10:08am ET tee time. As of this writing, Scheffler is currently -6 under midway through the second round.
As we said, this was a truly unprecedented start to the PGA Championship. It’s all setting up a weekend that fans won’t want to miss. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the final two rounds with DISH. Not a DISH subscriber? Follow this link to find the best offer and subscribe to DISH today!
2024 PGA Championship TV Schedule
Round 3 Saturday: 10am – 1pm on ESPN (channel 140) and 1-7 pm ET on CBS (check your guide for the channel)
Round 4 Sunday: 10am – 1pm on ESPN and 1-7 pm ET on CBS
*Additional coverage of the PGA Championship on ESPN+ and Paramount+. This includes earlier coverage, featured groups, and featured holes.
Where is The Course?
Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY, which was specifically designed to host Major Championship golf. The expansive, relatively flat property features numerous bunkers and winding creeks throughout the course. With the rough grown out and softer conditions due to the weather, the course will play even longer. Notably, the course has been lengthened since its last major event in 2014, with significant changes to the first, 12th, 14th, and 18th holes. This week, long iron play will be especially crucial. Over 200,000 spectators are expected to attend the PGA Championship, ensuring a vibrant, stadium-like atmosphere filled with excitement.
Can Scottie Scheffler Set Aside His Legal Drama and Win?
Even before his arrest early Friday, it has been an incredibly significant year for the 27-year-old Scheffler, both on and off the links. In his last five starts, Scheffler has won four times and had a second place finish that could have easily been a victory. Scheffler’s short game has always been his weakest attribute, but it appears he’s solved his putting woes. And since he’s continued to be the best ball-striker in the world, Scheffler has dominated every event he enters, to the point that some are wondering if he could pull off the Tiger Slam and win four-straight major championships (he already has the 2024 Masters championship in his bag). If all this weren’t enough, Scottie and his wife Meredith welcomed their first child last week. Talk about a wild year.
Can the 2023 PGA Championship winner repeat?
That would be Brooks Koepka, and the 3-time PGA Championship winner is off to a solid start, shooting -4 under 67 in the opening round. That’s not surprising since the course’s layout favors his style of play. Bethpage, Oak Hill, and Bellerive – the sites of his previous PGA Championship wins – all boast big tracks, with long rough that puts a premium on hitting it a long way with accurate iron play. Another win would also significantly impact Koepka’s legacy, as a 6th major championship would move him into 12th place all-time, where he would be tied with hall-of-famers Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino.
Will Rory Roar?
Not only are Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka entering the PGA Championship with momentum, but so is world number two Rory McIlroy, who shot an excellent -5 under 66 in round one. Despite recent news of McIlroy and his partner Erica Stoll filing for divorce, McIlroy is coming off a victory at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, a course quite similar to Valhalla. Additionally, McIlroy’s last major win occurred at Valhalla ten years ago, making this a prime opportunity for him to secure his fifth major title. However, Scheffler and Koepka pose significant challenges.
The last three PGA Championships at Valhalla have been closely contested, often decided at the wire or in a playoff. This weekend, it’s expected that the top players, including Scheffler, Koepka, and McIlroy, will be in the mix for the title.
