World No 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was taken to jail on a string of charges – including a felony charge of assaulting a police officer – after being arrested by police outside Valhalla Golf Club on Friday morning.
In remarkable footage, which flooded social media, Scheffler was seen being led into a police car in handcuffs as he tried to enter the club before his second round of the PGA Championship.
‘Can you please help me?’ a panicked Scheffler could be heard asking a nearby reporter in the stunning clip.
He found himself on the wrong side of law enforcement after reportedly trying to pull around what he believed to be security staff. It was in fact cops, who told him to stop. When he didn’t, ESPN reported, the officer attached himself to Scheffler’s car. The world No 1 then drove around another 10 yards before stopping.
The officer is then said to have grabbed at Scheffler’s car, attempting to pull him out of the car before Scheffler opener the door. He was then dragged out of the vehicle, pushed up against it and placed in handcuffs.
The world No 1, 27, was later booked into jail and a mugshot released via the Louisville Department of Corrections. DailyMail.com can confirm that Scheffler has since been freed from jail after being charged with the following:
- Second-degree assault of a police officer, which is a felony
- Third-degree criminal mischief
- Disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic
A mugshot of world no 1 Scottie Scheffler following his arrest by Louisville police on Friday
Scottie Scheffler was detained in handcuffs by police outside Valhalla Golf Club on Friday
In remarkable footage the world No 1 golfer was seen being led into a police car
‘Can you please help me?’ a panicked Scheffler could be heard asking eyewitnesses
The world No 1 was involved in a bizarre misunderstanding with officers following an accident
The incident occurred as the second round of the PGA Championship was delayed Friday due to a fatal accident near the club.
A pedestrian was hit and killed by a shuttle bus outside the golf course. Scheffler was not involved in the accident but he was caught in a massive traffic backup around Valhalla.
The world No 1 was due to tee off for his second round at 8:48 ET alongside Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman. That has now been pushed back to 10.08.
According to ESPN, Scheffler was trying to enter the course, with media told that players would be allowed through the gates – even as everyone else was kept out.
It’s claimed the officers had no idea who Scheffler was. ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington claimed: ‘One police officer came up to me with his pad and said – pen in hand – “Can you tell me the name of the person we’ve just arrested?”‘
As the golfer was led away, Darlington – who filmed the incident – attempted to get the attention of officers. He was warned: ‘Back up or you’re going to jail also!’
Scheffler was attempting to enter Valhalla for the second round of the PGA Championship
The incident occurred as Friday’s action was delayed due to an unrelated fatal accident
‘Right now, he’s going to jail,’ another officer said. ‘He’s going to jail and there’s nothing you can do about it. Period.’
It is claimed that confusion arose as Scheffler tried to navigate his way around a traffic cordon set up following the accident. The entrances to Valhalla were swarming with dozens of cop cars on Friday morning.
According to Darlington the situation moved ‘very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively’. Scheffler was put in a squad car – still in handcuffs – before reportedly being released.
It’s claimed that Scheffler was unaware that the person he was dealing with was a police officer. According to Sky Sports, Scheffler had been released by around 7am local time.
Scheffler returned to the course on Thursday after his wife Meredith gave birth to a son
Scheffler posted this picture of his newborn son Bennett ahead of the tournament in Kentucky
The world No 1 signs autographs for supporters following a practice round at Valhalla
Players are given courtesy cars and, according to ESPN, another player arrived at Valhalla around 5.45am before attempting to move around the cordon – just as Scheffler did.
When officers saw the markings on his car, he was waved through without incident.
Scheffler sits in a tie for 12th after ending his first round on four-under-par. As is typical for players at a major championship, the world No 1 was arriving at Valhalla around three hours early.
Players reach the course in good time in order to have breakfast, work out and go through their warm-up before heading to the first tee.
