The World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler endured one of the most bizarre and frustrating moments of his season during the second round of the Procore Championship at Silverado Resort, when his ball ricocheted off a spectator’s heel and came to rest on a mess of tree roots. The unlucky bounce forced Scheffler to pitch out sideways and contributed to another bogey during a turbulent back nine.
Despite the chaos, Scheffler still managed to shoot a 4-under 68 and sits at 6-under through 36 holes — eight shots back of leader and fellow Ryder Cup teammate Ben Griffin, who blistered the North Course to reach 14-under heading into the weekend.
Scheffler Starts Strong, Stumbles Late
Scheffler opened Friday with a flurry of birdies — five on his opening nine after starting on the back — but the momentum fizzled after the turn. A bogey at the par-4 1st derailed his run, followed by four pars and then the misfortune on the par-4 6th. After watching his shot strike a female spectator and kick wildly offline, Scheffler’s ball nestled awkwardly against tree roots, forcing a punch-out.
The bogey dropped him further behind the leaders, but he salvaged the round with a birdie at the 9th — his final hole of the day.
Still, it wasn’t the second round he needed as he chases a sixth win in what’s already been a dominant season.
Ryder Cup Tune-Up Turns Tense
The Procore Championship is the last PGA Tour stop before the Ryder Cup kicks off at Bethpage Black in two weeks. Team USA captain Keegan Bradley encouraged his players to compete in Napa to stay sharp, and 10 of the 12 answered the call. Only Xander Schauffele — with his wife having just given birth — and Bryson DeChambeau, who remains suspended due to LIV Golf ties, are absent.
That has added weight to this week’s play, with every swing watched through the lens of Ryder Cup readiness.
Henley, Griffin, and Spaun Lead the Charge
While Scheffler battles erratic tee shots and unfortunate breaks, others are capitalizing. Ben Griffin is the man to catch after a second straight low round, setting the bar at 14-under. Russell Henley, another likely Ryder Cup pairing for Scheffler, also carded a 68 and sits at 11-under as he chases a second win this season — and justifies his place as a smart betting tip.
JJ Spaun, the reigning U.S. Open champ and another Ryder Cup selection, is also lurking near the top of the board in Napa, showing promising form just ahead of one of the biggest weeks of his career.
