Scottie Scheffler arrested at PGA Championship in bizarre incident
Mar 26, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Scottie Scheffler tees off on the 6th hole during the fourth round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Scottie Scheffler was arrested en route to play his second round at the PGA Championship on Friday in a very bizarre series of events.
Scheffler was arrested for what ESPN’s Jeff Darlington called a “misunderstanding with traffic flow” while trying to enter Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Police were rerouting traffic near the entrance after a man had been struck and killed by a shuttle bus at roughly 5 a.m. According to Darlington, who observed the incident, Scheffler attempted to drive around the accident site on a median. He was instructed to stop by a police officer, but continued driving toward the entrance for 10 to 20 yards, prompting an officer to attach himself to Scheffler’s car.
Once Scheffler stopped, the officer began “screaming” at him to get out of the car. Once he did, he was shoved against the car, handcuffed, and arrested.
Breaking News: World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has been detained by police in handcuffs after a misunderstanding with traffic flow led to his attempt to drive past a police officer into Valhalla Golf Club. The police officer attempted to attach himself to Scheffler’s car,…
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) May 17, 2024
At one point, Scheffler asked Darlington, who was standing at the entrance, if he could do anything to help. Darlington was then told by an officer that Scheffler was “going to jail” and there was nothing that could be done.
Police officer to @JeffDarlington as Scottie Scheffler was in handcuffs and placed into the back of a police car:
“There’s nothing you can do, he’s going to jail.”
— Randy Scott (@RandyScottESPN) May 17, 2024
Steven Romines, Scheffler’s attorney, told Mark Schlabach of ESPN that Scheffler had been unaware of the fatal accident and the change in traffic patterns, and had been proceeding to the entrance with his credential as he had been told to.
“They are allowed to go through, that’s why they have the credential and the wave-through,” Romines said. “He was unaware there had been a wreck, and he proceeded like they’d been instructed to. He did exactly as he was instructed to enter the premises.”
Scheffler was arrested and even taken for a mugshot, which quickly went viral. He was hit with four charges, including reckless driving, criminal mischief, and second degree assault of a police officer. The latter is a felony charge.
Scottie Scheffler mug shot released on LMPD website pic.twitter.com/DDdmoOjtAv
— sam stone (@sam_rock_stone) May 17, 2024
Scheffler was released at approximately 8:40 a.m. ahead of his 10:08 a.m. tee time. He arrived at Valhalla roughly a half hour later and was able to make his tee time.
Scheffler is the No. 1 golfer in the world and the favorite at the PGA Championship. He is fresh off a victory at the Masters, but he certainly did not have to deal with anything like this at Augusta.