World No 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was taken to jail on a string of charges – including a felony charge of assaulting a police officer – after being arrested by police outside Valhalla Golf Club on Friday morning.
In remarkable footage, which flooded social media, Scheffler was seen being led into a police car in handcuffs as he tried to enter the club before his second round of the PGA Championship.
‘Can you please help me?’ a panicked Scheffler could be heard asking a nearby reporter in the stunning clip. In Kentucky, second-degree assault is a Class C felony which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Shortly after 10am on Friday, however, Scheffler was back out on the course in search of more major glory.
Scheffler is accused of ‘refusing to comply’ with police instructions after attempting to pull into the course and dragging a police officer to the ground. The officer was taken to hospital after suffering pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee.’
It is said that police attempted to stop Scheffler, only for him to ‘accelerate forward’. That led to an officer attaching himself to Scheffler’s car. The world No 1 then drove around another 10 yards before stopping.
The officer is then said to have grabbed at Scheffler, attempting to pull him out of the car before Scheffler opened the door. He was then dragged out of the vehicle, pushed up against it and placed in handcuffs.
The world No 1, 27, was later booked into jail and a mugshot released via the Louisville Department of Corrections. DailyMail.com can confirm that Scheffler has since been freed from jail after being charged with the following:
- Second-degree assault of a police officer
- Third-degree criminal mischief
- Reckless driving
- Disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic
Scottie Scheffler took to the course just hours after he was charged with a felony in Kentuck
The American swapped an orange jumpsuit for his Nike golf gear in time for his round
A mugshot of world no 1 Scheffler following his arrest by Louisville police on Friday
Scottie Scheffler was detained in handcuffs by police outside Valhalla Golf Club on Friday
In remarkable footage the world No 1 golfer was seen being led into a police car
‘Can you please help me?’ a panicked Scheffler could be heard asking eyewitnesses
The world No 1 was involved in a bizarre misunderstanding with officers following an accident
Scheffler arrived back at Valhalla around 9:10am ET, having been booked and released
The 27-year-old was driven back to the course in a black Range Rover alongside his agent
Scheffler was not involved in the accident which caused a traffic backup around Valhalla
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Scottie Scheffler's criminal charges in full after wild arrest scene outside 2024 PGA Championship
According to Scheffler’s arrest citation, per WLKY, the golfer ‘refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground.’
It continued: ‘Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee. He was transported to hospital for further medical treatment by emergency medical personnel. Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80 were damaged beyond repair.’
The incident occurred as the second round of the PGA Championship was delayed Friday due to a fatal accident near the club.
At 5:09am on Friday, a pedestrian was hit and killed by a shuttle bus outside the golf course. Scheffler was not involved in the accident but he was caught in a massive traffic backup around Valhalla.
Scheffler released a statement following his release, which read: ‘This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers. 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.’
The world No 1 was due to tee off for his second round at 8:48 ET alongside Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman. That was pushed back to 10:08, with Mail Sport told Scheffler will be on the tee at that time.
According to ESPN, Scheffler was detained by Louisville Police at 6.01am. He had been attempting to enter the course, with media told that players would be allowed through the gates – even as everyone else was kept out.
News of his arrest broke almost immediately and he was booked by Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections at 7:28am. He had to change into an orange jumpsuit before being released at 8:40am.
Scheffler arrived back at Valhalla around 9.10am, having been driven into the course in a black Range Rover alongside his agent Blake Smith. He was asked for a comment by ESPN reporter Marty Smith. He responded: ‘I love you, Marty.’
According to ESPN, Scheffler then walked into the clubhouse dining room and said, ‘hey everybody’, before sitting down and eating a plate of eggs.
Shortly after 9:30am, with little over half an hour until his tee time, Scheffler was seen heading to the practice range. He was given a great reception by fans, one of whom shouted: ‘You’re not a criminal!’
He passed many of his rivals, including Rickie Fowler who asked him: ‘All good?’ Scheffler simply replied: ‘All good.’
The world No 1’s parents, Scott Sr and Diane, are seen at Valhalla during Friday’s second round
Scheffler was attempting to enter Valhalla for the second round of the PGA Championship
The incident occurred as Friday’s action was delayed due to an unrelated fatal accident
Shortly after 9:30am Scheffler was seen heading to the practice range at Valhalla
He was given a great reception by golf fans, one of whom shouted: ‘You’re not a criminal!’
Scheffler warms up ahead of his second round at the PGA Championship in Kentucky
The world No 1 shares a joke with his caddie Ted Scott during his pre-round practice
Scheffler posted a statement to his Instagram account shortly after returning to Valhalla
The world No 1 was given a raucous ovation when he arrived on the 10th tee to begin his second round alongside Clark and Harman. He sent his opening drive into the rough down the right, with fans shouting: ‘Free Scottie!’
He began with a birdie on day two of four in the year’s second major championship.
Scheffler has enjoyed an incredible start to the 2024 season – he won the Masters and his past five tournaments ended in four victories and one second-place finish.
Amid this period of dominance not seen since the heyday of Tiger Woods, his wife Meredith gave birth to their first child, a son named Bennett, only days before the PGA Championship.
Steve Romines, a local attorney hired on Scheffler’s behalf, provided more details on the saga in a brief news conference. He said: ‘Apparently there had been a traffic accident, maybe even a fatality, down the road and that had changed the traffic patterns and he was unaware of that.
‘The officer that was directing traffic, that was maybe not part of the event traffic detail, that’s where the miscommunication arose.
‘They are allowed to go through, they have the credentials, so he proceeded like they had been instructed to. We’ll litigate the case as it comes, Scottie will cooperate fully.
‘He did exactly as he was instructed to do to enter the premises. He’s been released, we’ll decide if he’s going to play golf today or not, and we’ll deal with the court system as it comes.’
It’s claimed that the officers had no idea who Scheffler was when they first detained him. ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington claimed: ‘One police officer came up to me with his pad and said – pen in hand – “Can you tell me the name of the person we’ve just arrested?”‘
As the golfer was led away, Darlington – who filmed the incident – attempted to get the attention of officers. He was warned: ‘Back up or you’re going to jail also!’
‘Right now, he’s [Scheffler] going to jail,’ another officer said. ‘He’s going to jail and there’s nothing you can do about it. Period.’
It is claimed that confusion arose as Scheffler tried to navigate his way around a traffic cordon set up following the accident. The entrances to Valhalla were swarming with dozens of police cars on Friday morning.
Scheffler returned to the course on Thursday after his wife Meredith gave birth to a son
Scheffler posted this picture of his newborn son Bennett ahead of the tournament in Kentucky
The world No 1 signs autographs for supporters following a practice round at Valhalla
According to Darlington the situation moved ‘very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively’. Scheffler was put in a squad car – still in handcuffs – before reportedly being released.
It’s claimed that Scheffler was unaware that the person he was dealing with was a police officer.
Players are given courtesy cars and, according to ESPN, another player arrived at Valhalla around 5.45am before attempting to move around the cordon – just as Scheffler did.
When officers saw the markings on his car, he was waved through without incident.
Scheffler sits in a tie for 12th after ending his first round on four-under-par. As is typical for players at a major championship, the world No 1 was arriving at Valhalla around three hours early.
Players reach the course in good time in order to have breakfast, work out and go through their warm-up before heading to the first tee.
The PGA of America released a statement following Scheffler’s arrest, which read: ‘Our primary concern today remains with the family of John Mills, who lost his life in a tragic accident early this morning while reporting to work.
‘As it relates to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we are fully cooperating as local authorities review what took place. While the legal process plays out, questions should to be directed to Scheffler’s attorney or local authorities.’