World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler released a statement addressing the “big misunderstanding” amid a chaotic scene outside Valhalla Golf Club that led to his arrest ahead of Round 2 of the 2024 PGA Championship on Friday morning.
“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers,” the statement read, via ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. “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.”
Scheffler was attempting to drive into the Kentucky golf club when he was stopped by Louisville Metro Police. Traffic was halted near the site of a shuttle bus accident earlier in the morning that killed a man.
According to Darlington, who witnessed the situation, Scheffler dragged a police officer who was trying to stop his car from proceeding. When Scheffler rolled down the window, the officer, Bryan Gillis, tried to forcibly remove the world’s best golfer from the vehicle.
In the police report, Gillis accuses Scheffler of purposely dragging him to the ground with his car by hitting the accelerator. Gillis claimed he suffered minor injuries and his “uniform pants, valued at approximately $80, were damaged beyond repair.”
Scheffler was handcuffed, booked, and released without bail around 8:40 a.m. ET. He faces a felony charge of second-degree assault of a police officer, and misdemeanor charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
“He was going into Valhalla to work out,” Scheffler’s attorney told ESPN. “He was getting ready for his tee time. They were directing traffic. He held his credential out and was going in like they’d been instructed to. Apparently, there had been a traffic accident, maybe even a fatality, down the road, and that had changed the traffic patterns, and he was unaware of that.
“…He was unaware there had been a wreck, and he proceeded like they’d been instructed to. He did exactly as he was instructed to enter the premises.”
Scheffler began his second round at 10:08 a.m. ET on the par-5 10th. He went birdie-bogey-birdie-par-par through his first five holes. Scheffler shot a 4-under 67 on Thursday. He opened his round with a 167-foot hole-out for eagle.
The best player in the world has won four of his last five PGA Tour starts, including two signature events (Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage), the Players Championship, and the Masters. In between, his five-footer to force a playoff at the Valero Texas Open lipped out.
Scheffler, 27, took the last three weeks off to be at home in Texas with his wife, Meredith, who gave birth to the couple’s first child.
