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World No. 1 golferScottieSchefflerwas arrested and charged with four offenses, including one felony, prior to the start of the second round of the PGA Championship on Friday morning. He was released from custody after being booked at the Louisville (Ky.) Metro Department of Corrections, his mug shot taken while wearing an orange jail-issued jumpsuit.
The arrest came asSchefflerattempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville as he drove in a player-marked car. The 27-year-old was attempting to drive around the site of a fatal accident that occurred, per Louisville Metro Police, at 5:09 a.m. ET when a shuttle bus struck and killed an adult male pedestrian as he was crossing the road near the front gate of Valhalla.
"This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club," PGA of America said in a statement. "This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones."
Scheffler, who was not involved in the accident, allegedly failed to yield to a command to stop before a police officer grabbed on to the golfer's car. Schefflerdrove about 10 to 20 yards before stopping his vehicle at the entrance to Valhalla, per an ESPN reporter who was on the scene. Once he opened the car door, an officer put him against the car and placed him in handcuffs, ESPN reported.
The charges are second-degree assault on a police officer, a felony, as well as third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregrading signals from officers directing traffic.
Steve Romines, a local attorney hired to representScheffler, said the arrest was a result of a "miscommunication." He saidSchefflerdidn't know of changed traffic patterns due to the accident, and the officer directing traffic was not part of the law enforcement assigned to the tournament, meaning the officer wasn't aware of how to wave players through. Unaware that there'd been a wreck,Schefflerdid "exactly as he was instructed to do to enter the premises," Romines said.
The incident occurred around 6 a.m.Schefflerwas booked at 7:28 a.m. and released at 8:40 a.m. He arrived back at Valhalla at 9:12 a.m. and entered the clubhouse. The second round was scheduled to start at 7:15 a.m. but was delayed until 8:35 a.m. as traffic snarled outside the course and players had difficulty entering the ground. Per PGA Communications, all starting tee times were delayed 80 minutes from the originally published time.
In the first round,Schefflershot a 4-under 67 to enter the second round in a tie for 12th place. Xander Schauffele is the leader after a first-round 62.
Scottie Scheffler played PGA Championship in Rochester NY in 2023
The Dallas native came to Rochester last year ready to redeem himself in western New York. He had a tough experience here as a college student at the storiedMonroe Invitational, an amateur event that takes place at Monroe Golf Club.
Scheffler had slept badly, waking up with a crick in his neck, and it was cold compared to the weather he often had played in. He had to drop out of that tournament in order to be ready for the U.S. Open.
This time, he was coming to Rochester for the PGA Championship tournament at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford. Scheffler was complimentary ofOak Hill Country Clubduring the pre-tournament festivities for the 105th PGA Championship, pulling out stock responses about the fairness of the Donald Ross design and how the course is manageable if you play from the short stuff.
And what’s not to like about Oak Hill? The storied track washosting this major for a fourth time, with the most recent playing just a decade ago.
Scheffler was arriving in 2023 as the No. 2 player in the world. He was competitive in the first two days, at times right in contention for the lead or in the lead. On that Thursday, Scheffler played the first bogey-free round of his career in a major championship.
He was competitive and had his late push, but ended tied for second. He birdied the 18th to close out a 65 — tied for the low round of the tournament.
Compared to 2024's crazy events of May 17 at the PGA, his year before in Rochester saw him calm.
“There’s never any pressure at a golf tournament, right?” he said with a smile in 2023. “I think the majors with all the history and everything that goes on here, there’s always a little bit of a different feel. I think for me as a player it’s exciting."
Contributing: Reuters
