Scottie Scheffler returns to the PGA Tour with a bang as he sits second in first tournament since having all charges dropped in Kentucky

Scottie Scheffler returned to the PGA Tour with an emphatic statement on Thursday, with an impressive opening round at the Memorial Tournament – his first event since having all charges dropped in Kentucky last week. 

Scheffler birdied the final hole to finish on five-under par for the day and claim the clubhouse lead. 

However, he was leapfrogged by Adam Hadwin just a few holes later as the Canadian birdied four of his last six holes to take the outright lead. 

Scheffler was left one shot back of the lead, ahead of  PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg and others. 

Scheffler was detained ahead of his second round at the PGA Championship last month after he tried to drive into the course in heavy traffic which had been caused by an unrelated accident in which a male pedestrian died.

Scheffler birdied the final hole to finish on five-under par for the day and one clear at the top

The world number one was released in time to return to Valhalla and card a remarkable 66, but only after being charged with four offences, the most serious being second-degree assault of a police officer, which is a felony. 

The charges were dropped 12 days later, with Scheffler finding out during the preceding week’s Charles Schwab Challenge – where he finished tied second – that was set to be the case. 

He returned to the course at Muirfield on Thursday and got off to the perfect start with two birdies in his first three holes.

A bogey at the par-five fifth would be Scheffler’s only dropped shot of the day.

He then birdied 11, 13, 15 and 18 to put himself at the top of the leaderboard, before Hadwin overtook him at the top.