The top golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler, was arrested and charged with felony assault on a police officer and reckless driving outside a PGA championship event in Kentucky. The incident occurred as Scheffler was driving on a median toward the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club and initially failed to stop when ordered by an officer. This occurred amidst traffic being stopped outside the entrance due to a man being hit and killed by a shuttle bus earlier that day. Scheffler was booked at the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections website at 7:28 a.m. ET, but the charges against him seemed to have been resolved by 8:50 a.m. ET.
The details surrounding Scheffler’s arrest and the charges against him were not immediately clear, and the PGA had not responded to requests for comment. Despite the incident, Scheffler was still scheduled to tee off at 10:08 a.m. ET from the 10th hole for the second day of the championship. He arrived at Valhalla around 9:10 a.m. ET, leaving him with less than an hour to prepare before his scheduled tee time. Journalist Jeff Darlington witnessed Scheffler being detained by police officers and placed in handcuffs after attempting to drive around what he believed was security.
Darlington reported that Scheffler did not initially stop when ordered by the police officer, who then attached himself to the vehicle as Scheffler continued driving for another 10 yards before eventually stopping the car. The police officer then attempted to pull Scheffler out of the car, leading to his eventual arrest and handcuffing. The unfolding incident was captured on video and broadcasted on ESPN’s “Sports Center.” The situation was described as tense as the police officer pushed Scheffler up against the car before placing him in handcuffs.
As this is a developing story, updates on the situation may be forthcoming. The circumstances surrounding Scheffler’s arrest, the disposition of the charges against him, and any potential repercussions within the golfing community were yet to be determined. The incident has cast a shadow over the PGA championship event at Valhalla Golf Club, where one of the top golfers in the world found himself embroiled in legal trouble. Fans and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on the situation as more information becomes available, with the hope that the focus can return to the sport itself rather than off-the-course distractions.
