Scotty SchefflerThe world’s top golfer was arrested and charged with grievous assault on a police officer and reckless driving after chaos erupted early Friday morning just outside the PGA Championship venue in Louisville, Kentucky.
Scheffler was released without bail within hours and returned to tee time for the game. 2nd round of the tournament in Valhalla Golf Club. He shot a 5-under 66 to move up his leaderboard to a tie for fourth after starting the day in a tie for 12th.
According to an ESPN reporter who witnessed the incident, the 27-year-old golfer drove down the median toward the club’s entrance and was initially detained after failing to comply with a police officer’s order to stop.
At the time, traffic outside the entrance was being rerouted after the man left. I beat him to death. Take the shuttle bus early on the day.
At approximately 6:16 a.m. ET, Scheffler swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid oncoming traffic and enter a golf course, according to a Louisville Metro Police report.
A Louisville police detective wearing a uniform and high-visibility rain jacket stopped Scheffler and attempted to give him instructions, but the golfer “refused to comply and accelerated forward, limping.” [the officer] fell to the ground,” the report said.
Detective Brian Gillis was taken to the hospital with “pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee,” according to a report obtained by NBC affiliate WAVE3 in Louisville.
“Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80, were damaged beyond repair,” the report said.
Scheffler, who won the Masters Tournament for the second time last month, said in a statement Friday morning just before his scheduled tee time that the incident was the result of a “big misunderstanding.”
Mug shot of PGA golfer Scott Alexander Scheffler, who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer after attempting to enter a PGA Championship venue on May 17, 2024.
Source: Louisville Metro Police Department
“This morning I was acting on the instructions of a police officer. As expected in light of the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, the situation was extremely chaotic,” Scheffler said in a post on his official website. Stated. instagram account.
“There was a huge misunderstanding of what I thought was wanted,” he said. “I had no intention of ignoring the instructions. Today I want to put that aside and focus on golf.”
Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. ET, according to the Louisville Metropolitan Corrections Department’s website.
Booking information initially listed charges of second-degree assault on a police officer, a felony, as well as third-degree misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, reckless driving and failure to signal a traffic officer.
Scheffler was released without bail from a Louisville facility just before 9 a.m. ET, according to WAVE3.
Scottie Scheffler arrives on the course during the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ben Jared | PGA Tour | Getty Images
“We’re going to let everything take its course. That’s as far as we know. It’s moving pretty quickly at this point, but the lawsuit is moving pretty quickly. I plan to file a lawsuit as soon as it happens.” release.
Romines said in a statement to CNBC that Scheffler was driving to the golf course to begin pre-round preparations and was “proceeding under the direction of another traffic officer.”
“The combination of event congestion and traffic fatalities in the area created a very chaotic situation,” Romines said.
“During the confusion, Scotty allegedly ignored another officer’s signal, which resulted in this charge,” the attorney said. “Multiple witnesses said Scotty did nothing wrong.” “We have confirmed that he did not do anything wrong, and that he was simply following instructions,” he added.
“He stopped immediately when instructed to do so and at no time did he assault any officers with his vehicle,” Romines said.
Scotty Scheffler of the United States and his caddy Ted Scott head to the driving range during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 17, 2024.
Ross Kinnaird Getty Images
Scheffler, who has won four of the past five tournaments he has played, teed off the 10th hole just after 10:08 a.m. ET on the second day of the championship. He arrived at Valhalla Golf Club around 9:10 a.m. Eastern time, giving him less than an hour to get ready.
The PGA Tour and PGA of America referred to Scheffler’s statement to CNBC when asked for comment on Scheffler’s arrest.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington said Friday morning that Scheffler “was detained by officers, handcuffed and placed in the back of a police vehicle after attempting to drag what appeared to be security.” He said he witnessed it.
Scottie Scheffler tees off from the 10th hole for the start of the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Matthew Maxey | Icon Getty Images
“He didn’t stop, so the officer held on to the car. Scheffler then drove another 10 yards and stopped the car,” Darlington said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
“The officer then grabbed Mr. Scheffler by the arm and tried to pull him out of the car, but when Mr. Scheffler finally opened the door, the officer pulled him out of the car and pushed him against the vehicle. ‘I handcuffed him,”’ Darlington said.
