Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, made headlines on Friday morning when he was arrested while trying to drive to the Valhalla Golf Club for the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship. The arrest came after Scheffler reportedly drove on a median to get around police who were on the scene for a fatal accident in which a pedestrian had been struck and killed by a shuttle bus.
The PGA Tour announced that the start of the Championship would be delayed by an hour and 20 minutes due to the incident. Despite the delay, Scheffler arrived at the course around 9:12 a.m. ET and issued a statement expressing his hope to put the incident behind him and focus on golf.
Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, explained that Scheffler was unaware of the changed traffic patterns due to the accident and had followed instructions given to him by police. However, he was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.
The incident was captured on video by ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, showing Scheffler being arrested and escorted to a police car. The Kentucky Court of Justice listed the charges faced by Scheffler, including the assault of a police officer, which is considered a Class C felony.
Scheffler’s mugshot from the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections was also released, further highlighting the seriousness of the situation. The PGA of America extended their condolences to the family of the pedestrian who lost their life in the tragic accident. The story continues to develop as more details emerge.