Scottie Scheffler, the world's best golfer, was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer and reckless driving after a chaotic crash outside the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, early Friday morning.
Scheffler was released without bail within hours and returned to serve time in the second round of the tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. He shot a 66, five under par, and moved up the leaderboard into a tie for fourth after starting the day tied for 12th.
The 27-year-old golfer was arrested after he drove down a median toward the club entrance and initially failed to heed an officer's command to stop, according to an ESPN reporter who witnessed the incident.
Traffic was redirected out of the entrance at that time after a man was struck and killed by a shuttle bus earlier that day.
A Louisville Metro Police Department report alleged that at approximately 6:16 a.m. ET, Scheffler swerved into opposing lanes of traffic to avoid heavy traffic and get to the golf course.
A Louisville police detective, dressed in uniform and wearing a high-visibility rain jacket, stopped Scheffler and attempted to give him instructions, but the golfer “refused to comply and sped forward and pulled (the officer) to the ground,” the report said.
Detective Brian Gillis “suffered pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee” and was taken to the hospital, according to the report obtained by NBC affiliate WAVE3 in Louisville.
“Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80, were damaged beyond repair,” the report noted.
Schaeffler, who won his second Masters tournament last month, said in a statement issued shortly before his scheduled start on Friday morning that the incident was the result of a “huge misunderstanding.”
A photo of PGA golfer Scott Alexander Scheffler, who was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer after trying to enter the venue of the PGA Championship, on May 17, 2024.
Source: Louisville Metro Police Department
Schaeffler said in a post on his official Instagram account: “This morning, I was acting as directed by police officers. The situation was very chaotic, which is understandable, given the tragic incident that occurred earlier.”
“There was a huge misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do,” he said. “I never meant to ignore any of the instructions. Hopefully I can put that aside and focus on golf today.”
The Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections website showed Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. ET.
Booking information initially showed charges of second-degree assault on a police officer — a felony — as well as a third-degree misdemeanor, reckless driving and ignoring signals of an officer directing traffic.
Scheffler was released from the Louisville facility without bail shortly before 9 a.m. ET, according to WAVE3.
Scottie Scheffler hits the field during the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 17, 2024.
Ben Jared | PGA Tour | Getty Images
“We'll let it all play out, that's the extent of what we know,” Scheffler's lawyer, Steve Rominis, told reporters after the golfer's trial. “It's moving very quickly at this time, but we'll file a lawsuit by the time it comes.” launch.
In a statement to CNBC, Romines said Scheffler was driving to the golf course to begin his pre-round preparations and “act as directed by another traffic officer.”
“Due to the combination of traffic and traffic fatalities in the area, it was very chaotic,” Romines said.
“In the confusion, Scottie allegedly ignored a different officer's traffic signals which led to these charges,” the attorney said, adding: “Multiple eyewitnesses have confirmed that he did nothing wrong but was simply acting as directed.”
“He stopped immediately when directed and never assaulted any officer with his vehicle,” according to Romines.
Scottie Scheffler of the United States and his caddy, Ted Scott, walk to the driving range during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 17, 2024.
Ross Kinnaird | Getty Images
Scheffler, who has won four of the last five tournaments he has started, teed off just after 10:08 a.m. ET on the 10th hole for the second day of the tournament. He arrived at Valhalla Golf Club around 9:10 a.m. ET, giving him less than an hour to get ready.
The PGA Tour and PGA of America referred CNBC to Schaeffler's statement when asked for comment on his arrest.
ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington said Friday morning that he saw Scheffler “detained by police officers and placed in the back of a police car in handcuffs after he attempted what he believed to be a security stop.”
Scottie Scheffler tees off from 10th place to begin his second round of the PGA Championship, May 17, 2024, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
Matthew Maxey | Sportswire Icon | Getty Images
“When he didn't stop, the police officer pinned himself to the car,” Darlington said on ESPN's “SportsCenter.” Scheffler then drove another 10 yards before stopping the car.
“The police officer then grabbed his arm trying to get him out of the vehicle, before Scheffler eventually opened the door at which point the police officer pulled Scheffler out of the vehicle, pushed him toward the vehicle and immediately placed him in handcuffs,” Darlington said.
