The penalty, announced in hushed tones after the 13th hole, came after what officials described as aĀ āserious breach of tournament protocol.āĀ Sources close to the tournament claim that Scheffler was allegedlyĀ using a prohibited rangefinderāa violation of Augustaās strict manual-only policy. But whatās more explosive is theĀ verbal altercationĀ that reportedly erupted between Scheffler and tournament officials once the ruling was made.
āHe was furious,ā one anonymous official told reporters. āThere was shouting. He accused the committee of targeting him. He even refused to sign his card at first.ā
Eyewitnesses say Scheffler was visibly shaken and stormed off to the clubhouse for an emergency meeting with PGA and Augusta representatives. Cameras caught the star pacing back and forth, gripping his hat in disbelief. Golf fans around the world watched in stunned silence as leaderboard numbers flickeredāSchefflerās score plummeting fromĀ -10 to -5Ā in an instant.
āThis Isnāt Over.ā
In a brief post-round statement, Scheffler said,
āI play with integrity. Always have. I donāt agree with the ruling, and Iāll leave it at thatāfor now.ā
Social media erupted with reactions, with hashtags likeĀ #JusticeForScottieĀ andĀ #AugustaGateĀ trending worldwide. Some fans and analysts questioned whether the rule was enforced fairly or if it was even clear to players that certain devices were off-limits.
A Tournament in Turmoil
The Masters, known for its elegance and tradition, has rarely seen such public drama. Insiders are now whispering about a possibleĀ internal investigationĀ and evenĀ rulebook revisionsĀ in the wake of the scandal.
With only one round left to play, all eyes will be on Scheffler Sundayācan he claw his way back from this stunning setback, or will the 2025 Masters be forever remembered for the controversy that derailed a champion?
One thing is certain:Ā this Masters is far from overāand the drama is just beginning.
