‘He’s going to jail’ – Footage shows world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler being arrested and taken away in police car
Scottie Scheffler's second round at the PGA Championship was thrown into chaos when he was arrested near Valhalla Golf Club.
World No.1 Scheffler, who recently won The Masters and became a father for the first time, was detained by police hours before he was due to tee off.
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Scheffler was placed in handcuffs and taken to a local station after a misunderstanding led to his attempt to drive past a police officer into Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky early Friday morning.
There had earlier been a fatal traffic accident near Valhalla when a pedestrian died after being struck by a shuttle bus.
, who witnessed the incident with the golf superstar, said: "Traffic had been backed up and building, Scottie Scheffler tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club using a side median, at which point a police officer instructed him to stop.
"Scheffler attempted to continue to go, the police officer then attached himself to the side of Scheffler's car. Scheffler stopped the vehicle as he turned into Valhalla Golf Club at the entrance, about 10 to 20 yards from the point at which the police officer first told him to stop.
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"At that point the police officer instructed Scheffler to get out of the car. He rolled down the window, the police officer grabbed his arm and started pulling at it. He reached inside, opened the car door, pulled Scheffler out, pushed him up against the car, immediately placed him in handcuffs."
Darlington later posted video footage on his account on X in which Scheffler appeared to turn to the reporter and say: "Can you please help me?"
A police officer is then seen telling Darlington: "Right now he's going to jail and it ain't nothing you can do about."
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Scheffler was detained and faces charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
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The Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections posted a mugshot of the 27-year-old and revealed he was booked in at 7.28am local time and released at 8.40am.
With play delayed by an hour and 20 minutes due to the fatal traffic accident, Scheffler made it to the golf course ahead of teeing off for his second round.
As he walked into the club, he didn't say anything to reporters waiting outside.
Fans cheered him as he warmed up, while Rickie Fowler checked in on the world's No. 1 golfer.
"You all good?" Fowler asked. Scheffler gave Fowler a fist bump and kept moving forward.
A chaotic day was just getting started for the two-time major champion, who released a statement on social media shortly before he got under way insisting it had all been a misunderstanding.
"This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers," Scheffler said.
"It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.
"I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I'm hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today.
"Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective."
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On the accident that led to the delay in play, the Louisville Metro Police Department said: "About 5:00 ET this morning, the LMPD responded to a call of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian and a bus.
"Our preliminary investigation found that an adult male pedestrian was crossing Shelbyville Roadsouth to north when he was struck by a shuttle bus that was travelling eastbound in the compulsory centre lane dedicated for buses.
"As a result, the pedestrian received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The LMPD Traffic Unit is investigating."
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