World watches on in shock as Scottie scheffler arrested at PGA champs

Golf had never witnessed anything like it, not during a major anyway. Scottie Scheffler was arrested and taken to a police station where he was put in a prisoner’s orange jumpsuit before being charged for second-degree assault of a police officer. The world No 1, who has a reputation for being perhaps the most uncontroversial, placid character on Tour, was then released and had to hurtle back to the Valhalla course to compete in the second day of the 106th US PGA Championship.

It was a bizarre, unprecedented situation, but – contrary to the reaction on social media – was anything but humorous. Scheffler will be called to court in Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city, on Tuesday to face four indictments that could conceivably see the Masters champion jailed and/or fined after a police officer claimed the golfer had dragged him down a road when accelerating as he tried to prevent the player’s car from entering the club gates.

Scheffler explained “it was a big misunderstanding”, but a police report stated that the officer was hospitalised by the injuries he suffered.

While golf has before viewed some of its biggest stars in police mug shots – Tiger Woods was famously arrested for driving under the influence after being found asleep at the wheel in 2017 – the serious nature of the Scheffler allegations are hugely concerning, despite the sport rallying around the 27-year-old and the fans here chanting about his innocence as he eventually played in his second round.

The day began with a tragedy, just after 5am. A worker for one of the US PGA vendors – later identified as Louisville resident John Mills – was hit by a shuttle bus and was declared dead at the scene. The surrounding roads were closed as the police dealt with the fatality and the start of play was delayed for 80 minutes.

Many of the pros were caught in the resulting jams. Cameron Young and Will Zalatoris got out of their courtesy cars and decided to walk to the course. At about 6am, Scheffler attempted to drive into the property ahead of his initial 8.48am tee-time, but as he circumvented the congested vehicles and avoided the cones, according to the police report, officer Brian Gillis stopped Scheffler’s car and “attempted to give instruction”.

“Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground,” the report continued. “Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knees. He was transported to the hospital for further medical treatment by emergency medical personnel. Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80 were damaged beyond repair.”

This version of events was contested by Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines. “Multiple eyewitnesses have confirmed that he did not do anything wrong but was simply proceeding as directed,” Romines said via a statement. “He stopped immediately upon being directed to and never at any point assaulted any officer with his vehicle. We will litigate this matter as needed.”

‘Tragedy puts everything in perspective’
In his own post on social media, Scheffler also pleaded his innocence. “This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers,” Scheffler said. “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.

“Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective.”

Jeff Darlington, an ESPN reporter, was an eyewitness and his account seemed, in part, to corroborate both descriptions. “Traffic had been backed up and building, Scottie Scheffler tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club using a side median, at which point a police officer instructed him to stop,” Darlington said.

“Scheffler attempted to continue to go, the police officer then attached himself to the side of Scheffler’s car. Scheffler stopped the vehicle as he turned into Valhalla at the entrance about 10 to 20 yards from the point at which the police officer first told him to stop. At that point the officer instructed Scheffler to get out of the car.

“He rolled down the window, the police officer grabbed his arm and started pulling at it. He reached inside, opened the car door, pulled Scheffler out, pushed him up against the car, immediately placed him in handcuffs.”

Four charges on his docket
Apart from the traffic – gridlocked around the course – everything began to move quickly. At 6.30am, Scheffler was officially arrested and transported to Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections where, after arriving at 7.28am, he was booked, photographed and charged, with counts of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic also on the docket.

At 8.40am he was released and was picked up by Jimmy Kirchdorfer – a Valhalla co-owner – in a Range Rover, pulling into the clubhouse car park at 9.12am. Scheffler quickly had breakfast, before stretching and having a truncated warm-up on the range. At 10.04am he walked to the 10th tee – his first of the day – where he was greeted by roars of appreciation and chants of “Free Scottie! Free Scottie!”.

Meanwhile on ESPN, David Duval, the former World No 1, was irresponsibly exonerating Scheffler of all blame, saying “Scottie is comfortable in knowing that he had no intent of doing anything improper”.

Scheffler, regarded as one of the most unflappable of performers, birdied his first hole and completed the next 13 holes in three-under to reach eight-under and put himself firmly in contention to win his fifth tournament in six events. He finished with an impressive score of 66, just two off lead.

Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg announced that the incident was being “fully investigated”, calling it “unfortunate”. That adjective did not begin to sum up an awful morning.