Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked golfer, was taken into custody by Louisville Metro Police on Friday morning after trying to access Valhalla Golf Club, where the PGA Championship is being held this week.
Traffic had come to a standstill outside the golf course following a tragic accident in which a shuttle bus struck and killed a pedestrian around 5 a.m. ET.
Scheffler faces multiple charges including second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and ignoring traffic directions. The assault charge is a felony, while the other charges are misdemeanors. Scheffler was released around 8:40 a.m. ET and proceeded to the golf club. His attorney indicated that it would be Scheffler’s decision whether or not to compete in the tournament’s second round today.
According to ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, who witnessed the event, Scheffler attempted to drive around the accident scene by using a median. Despite police instructions to stop, Scheffler continued driving for about 10 to 20 yards toward the entrance of Valhalla.
An officer attached himself to the side of Scheffler’s vehicle as Scheffler turned into the golf club’s entrance. After 20 to 30 seconds, Scheffler lowered his window to communicate with the officer, who then grabbed Scheffler’s arm, attempting to pull him out of the car. The officer reached inside to open the door, and once Scheffler was out, he was restrained against the car and handcuffed.
Scheffler, 27, has recently won four out of his last five tournaments, including his second major title at the Masters in April. He is slated to start his round at 10:08 a.m. ET.
The second round of the PGA Championship was delayed due to the shuttle bus accident outside Valhalla Golf Club. According to the Louisville Metro Police Department, the accident occurred when a man attempted to cross Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. in a designated bus lane and was struck, dying at the scene.
As of 6:45 a.m. ET, first responders and police were still at the site, and traffic was heavily congested in the dark and wet conditions. Shuttle buses transporting fans were halted, delaying the second round, which was originally scheduled to begin at 7:15 a.m. ET.
