In an unexpected turn of events early Friday morning, world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested by Louisville Metro Police as he attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club, the venue for the 2024 PGA Championship. This dramatic incident was captured by ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, who reported live from the scene.
The chaos unfolded just hours before the start of the second round of the tournament. Scheffler, arriving around 5 a.m. ET, tried to navigate his car around a traffic incident. According to reports, a shuttle bus had tragically struck and killed a pedestrian near the course, causing a significant traffic disruption. In his attempt to bypass the scene, Scheffler drove onto a median, ignoring police instructions to stop.
As detailed by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, the confrontation escalated when Scheffler continued driving towards the club entrance despite an officer’s commands. The officer attempted to stop Scheffler by attaching himself to the car, prompting Scheffler to halt. The situation intensified when the officer, shouting for Scheffler to exit the vehicle, forcibly detained the golfer, pushing him against the car and handcuffing him.
Jeff Darlington, present at the scene, recounted that Scheffler, visibly distressed, asked for help but was told to step back by the police. Scheffler faces multiple charges, including second-degree assault of a police officer, reckless driving, third-degree criminal mischief, and disregarding traffic signals—most of which are misdemeanors, except for the felony assault charge.
Despite this incident, Scheffler was released shortly after 8 a.m. ET and managed to make his adjusted tee time of 10:08 a.m. ET. On social media, Scheffler issued a brief statement expressing his regret and confusion over the incident, aiming to clarify the misunderstanding that led to his arrest.
This shocking development has stirred the golf community and cast a shadow over the tournament, with many expressing disbelief at the sequence of events. Nonetheless, Scheffler’s resolve to compete underscores his professionalism and dedication amidst the unforeseen chaos.