PGA

Scottie Scheffler's arrest was apparently not off limits for his colleagues ... 'cause Xander Schauffele just admitted a bunch of PGA Tour stars roasted the world's best golfer for being thrown in the slammer last weekend.

Schauffele told Big Cat and PFT on Wednesday's episode of "Pardon My Take" that a group chat he had with Scottie and others like Gary Woodland, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas was full of jokes following the 27-year-old's run-in with cops outside of Valhalla Golf Club.

Schauffele insisted the trolling wasn't too bad -- it was "just enough," he said -- but he did reveal the dudes at one point changed the group chat's pic to Scheffler's mug shot.

Scottie Scheffler makes fast friends ... he wasn't in very long, but the world's number one golfer was a hit with fellow inmates -- and even law enforcement -- while behind bars!

TMZ Sports spoke to a man who was locked up with 27-year-old Scheffler Friday morning in Louisville ... and he told us the 2x Masters winner couldn't have been cooler during his couple-hours stay in lockup.

In fact, our witness didn't even know Scheffler was a star athlete, at the center of the biggest sports story in the world, until a police officer gave him the 411 ... saying, "You know you're talking to the number one golfer in the world, right?"

We asked Scheffler's fellow inmate about the golfer's demeanor while in custody.

"He kept saying it was bulls*** that he was there."

Scottie was seemingly popular among law enforcement behind bars, too. We're told he was drawing a crowd, with several jail staff and corrections officials popping out to take a peek at Scheffler.

Our witness even says he heard staff wondering how long Scottie would be held before being released.

Turns out his stay was rather fast. Scheffler, arrested during the 6 o'clock hour, somehow made his 10:08 AM tee time ... where the best player in the world proceeded to birdie the first hole (of course), and shoot a 5-under, 66 2nd round at the PGA Championship.

In fact, Scheffler's fast release (8:40 AM) has been the source of some controversy in Lousiville ... with some questioning how he was sprung so fast despite being arrested on 4 charges, including felony assault, for allegedly injuring (wrist and knee) an LMPD detective.

After he was released, Scottie addressed the incident, calling it a "misunderstanding."

"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."

The cop who tried to stop Scottie Scheffler from getting into the PGA Championship on Friday claims he was so injured during his encounter with the golfer ... he had to get checked out at a nearby hospital.

Louisville Metro Police Department officer Bryan Gillis made the claims in an incident report, obtained by TMZ Sports, claiming the entire altercation all started just after Scheffler had tried to avoid a large police presence that had been set up at Valhalla Golf Club to deal with a fatal car accident that had occurred just earlier in the AM.

Gillis said in the docs he stopped Scheffler's car and attempted to give him instructions on how to get around -- but Scheffler "refused to comply and accelerated forward."

7:11 AM PT -- Scottie Scheffler just teed off -- receiving a huge ovation from the crowd as he began his first hole of the day.

The drive was far from his best -- it landed in the rough ... although it certainly wasn't a bad shot -- especially considering how his morning went down.

6:53 AM PT -- Scottie Scheffler just released a statement on his arrest -- and he says it was all just one big misunderstanding.

Rory McIlroy's impending divorce clearly ain't affecting his golf game ... the PGA Tour star just lit up his first round at the PGA Championship.

Hitting the course for the first time since he filed for divorce on Monday from Erica Stoll, McIlroy showed no signs whatsoever of being off -- carding a 5-under 66 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Following the end of his round, he was in a tie for third ... just four strokes behind the leader, Xander Schauffele.

Rory McIlroy was not in the mood to discuss his personal life while facing a pool of reporters at the PGA Championship on Wednesday ... sticking to sports as he fielded questions.

TMZ Sports broke the story -- the 35-year-old golf superstar filed for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, earlier this week ... but anyone hoping to get some more info about Rory's off-course affairs was left without a sound bite.

Journalists were instructed to NOT ask anything about McIlroy's personal matters as he took the stage at Valhalla ... with someone hopping on the mic beforehand to tell reporters all they need to know was included in the statement his team released on Tuesday.

Did you know Megatron could transform into a PGA Tour golfer in retirement?

It's true ... at least that's according to Calvin Johnson himself, who tells TMZ Sports he's that good with a club in his hands!!!

The former Detroit Lions superstar is adamant he could make a real run at earning cash full-time at hitting fairways and greens in regulation ... if only he had just a little bit more free time on his hands.

A golf fan had to a get himself a new drink at a PGA Tour event on Thursday ... and it's all 'cause one of the pros hit his approach shot right into his cup.

The crazy moment happened just minutes ago out at The American Express tournament in La Quinta, Calif. ... when Adam Schenk was attempting to hit one of his first-round shots close to the green on the 16th hole.

The 31-year-old, however, pushed his ball to the right ... and when it came crashing down from the sky, it improbably landed in a spectator's beverage!!

The guy holding the cup was stunned ... but in perhaps even more shocking news, once Schenk fished the ball out of the dude's refreshment -- he birdied the hole!!

No word yet if Schenk replaced the fan's drink -- or if he gave him some cash to go grab another one.

Thirty-seven hours and 2,627 strokes later, Barstool Sports personality Jersey Jerry finally did it -- he hit a hole-in-one on a golf simulator ... after huge names like Tom Brady rallied behind the guy on his grueling journey.

For those who haven't been keeping up, the beloved Barstool employee does weekly challenges on his "Jerry After Dark" show ... and this time around, he tasked himself with playing virtual golf until he carded an ace.

As it turns out, Jerry's self-imposed quest was a LOT harder than expected ... and he quickly lost hope in achieving the feat.

Some big stars in the sports world voiced their support for Jerry -- golfers Brooks Koepka and Max Homa ... and even TB12 himself, who sent an encouraging X post to stay the course.

"It's darkest before dawn," the 7-time Super Bowl champ said Thursday morning.

Just minutes later, the moment of glory happened -- Jerry hit his perfect shot, and the entire room erupted in celebration.

Even the PGA Tour chimed in on the accomplishment ... congratulating JJ on the "LegenJerry" performance.

Jerry gave a speech shortly after reaching glory ... and naturally, the diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan used it as an opportunity to ask T.J. Watt out to dinner.

"T.J. Watt, listen," an emotional and fatigued Jerry said. "I love you so much, bro. We couldn't make dinner happen last year, my dream is to have dinner with T.J. It could be one-on-one, it could be multiple people. I don't care. I just want to have a nice steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, mac and cheese with T.J. Watt."

ScHoolboy Q hasn't released a new album in over 4 years ... a quiet streak the rapper says he plans on ending next year!!!

While attending Top Dawg Entertainment's 10th annual Christmas toy drive on Wednesday, Q gave props to his team -- he says they actively help the community even when it's not a holiday but still loved seeing everyone come together.

Q also performed classic cuts, like his 2016 platinum Kanye West collab "THat Part" ... but did promise he'll return in 2024 with "something special."

L.A. rapper EastSide K-Boy suggested Q should get his comedy show -- an idea Q didn't reject -- but his fans wouldn't be surprised if his homecoming somehow incorporated golf ... a sport he's gotten into much more, and not just for fun.

Q's been playing in big, legit tournaments -- he competed in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2022 and even appears in the "PGA Tour 2K23" video game.

Está claro que el talento se hereda en la familia Woods, porque el hijo de Tiger, Charlie, acaba de ayudar a su instituto a ganar un campeonato de golf.

El estudiante de primer año de 14 años de edad, compitió junto a otros cuatro para el equipo masculino de la Escuela Benjamin en el campeonato estatal de Florida FHSAA esta semana, y con sus dos puntuaciones de 78 y 76 ayudó a su equipo a levantar el codiciado trofeo durante la tarde del miércoles.

Charlie terminó cuarto de cinco en su equipo y empató en el puesto 26 del torneo. Papá estuvo animando a su hijo durante toda la competición.

Además de hacerse con una medalla, Charlie protagonizó uno de los mejores momentos de la semana, anotando un punto a larga distancia a lo Tiger por parte del adolescente.

Charlie ahora tiene derecho de jactarse de sus habilidades, ya queTiger nunca ganó un campeonato estatal cuando era joven.

The tee clearly doesn't fall far from the green in the Woods family ... 'cause Tiger's son, Charlie, just helped his high school win a golf championship!!

The 14-year-old freshman competed alongside four others for The Benjamin School's boys team at Florida's FHSAA Class A state championship this week ... and with his two scores of 78 and 76, he helped his squad raise the coveted trophy on Wednesday afternoon.

Charlie finished fourth out of five on his team ... and tied for 26th overall in the tournament. Dad was at the scene for the entirety of the week -- cheering on his boy throughout the competition.

In addition to snagging a title medal, Charlie also had one of the best highlights of the week ... sinking a long chip that elicited a very Tiger-like fist pump from the teenager.

Charlie now has some bragging rights over his Pops ... as Tiger never won a state championship when he was growing up.

Apenas cinco meses después de colgar los palos de golf, Michelle Wie West le cuenta a TMZ Sports que hay una mínima posibilidad de que se retire en el futuro.

"Nunca digas nunca", dijo esta semana en el aeropuerto de Los Ángeles.

Sin embargo, Wie West, que le puso punto y final a su carrera en julio, tras el US Women's Open de este año, cree que es casi seguro que haya terminado para siempre.

En cuanto a su retiro, Wie West dijo que el golf sigue formando parte de su rutina semanal, pero que no es ni de lejos lo que solía ser cuando era un fenómeno de grandes campeonatos.

"Definitivamente no practico, eso es seguro", dijo con una sonrisa. "Sólo juego".

Wie West dice que también ha estado haciendo un poco de jardinería... y siendo madre de su hija.

Si pensabas que ahora que su tiempo en los greens profesionales ha terminado, la vida de Michelle se ha vuelto relajada... ella dijo que no es el caso, diciéndo: "Soy madre, ¡no me relajo!".

Just five months into hanging up her golf spikes, Michelle Wie West is admitting to TMZ Sports there's at least a modicum of a chance she unretires at some point in the future.

"Never say never," she said out at LAX this week.

Then again, Wie West -- who called it a career in July following this year's U.S. Women's Open -- said she believes she's almost certainly done for good.

As for what she's been up to in retirement ... Wie West said golf is still part of her weekly routine -- it's just nowhere near what it used to be when she was a phenom hunting for major championships.

"I definitely don't practice, that's for sure," she said with a smile. "I just play."

Wie West says she's also been doing a little gardening ... and being a mom to her daughter.

And, if you thought any relaxation was involved now that her time on pro greens is over ... she said that's simply not the case, hilariously telling us, "I'm a mom -- I don't relax!"

Perhaps LeBron James wasn't kidding when he said he'd play in Saudi Arabia if the bag was big enough ... 'cause the King was spotted in the country, just weeks after he made the comment on social media.

Bron was in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, earlier this week. The exact reason for the trip is unclear, but James was seen hanging out in a gymnasium with a banner that said "Welcome to Arabia" and "Ministry of Sport."

LeBron was invited to watch a match between Saudi prospects at the AZM Academy, according to an online report.

So, while Lakers fans shouldn't worry (for now, at least) ... it doesn't seem impossible that James could play in Saudi for a massive amount of money after his NBA career is over.

In July, the Lakers superstar used a Tom Hanks' Forrest Gump GIF to show how fast he'd go to the Middle Eastern company if he got Kylian Mbappe-type money (the French soccer superstar got a staggering $776 million offer to play for Al-Hilal, but turned the money down).

Many fans perceived LBJ's tweet as a joke, but ... maybe not.

LeBron's not alone. We talked to Giannis Antetokounmpo a few weeks ago about the same subject ... and the Milwaukee Bucks superstar told us he'd be down to suit up in Saudi if the cash was right.

Just James visiting the country will likely be enough to spark a debate ... considering Saudi Arabia's history of human rights violations.

Despite the controversy, Saudi Arabia, with their enormous wealth, has lured some of the world's biggest athletes to their country, including Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo. Golfers like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, among others, also bolted for Saudi.

Former U.S. Open champ Gary Woodland just announced some scary news -- he's undergoing surgery to remove a lesion from his brain next month ... though he said he's in good spirits despite it all.

Woodland said on X on Wednesday morning he was actually diagnosed with the ailment a few months ago ... though he had initially tried to treat it with medication.

However, he says after talking it over with docs recently, he's now decided to go under the knife to try to remedy the problem.

"We've made the decision that surgery to remove the lesion is the best course of action," the 39-year-old said.

"I'm in good spirits," he added, "with my family and team by my side and so thankful for the love and support of everyone."

Woodland -- who holds four career PGA Tour wins, including the 2019 U.S. Open -- said surgery is slated for Sept. 18.