Golf world number one, Scottie Scheffler, found himself in a bizarre situation early Friday as he was handcuffed and arrested by police, for allegedly attempting to drive around traffic controls outside the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
The incident unfolded in what could be described as one of the strangest scenes ever at a major tournament.
Scheffler was detained by Louisville Metro police after driving onto curbing to navigate around an accident at the entrance of the golf course, which tragically resulted in the fatality of a pedestrian.
Charged with several offenses including assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic, Scheffler was later released on his recognizance.
Addressing the incident while preparing for his round, Scheffler expressed his side of the story.
stating, “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.”
Despite the challenging circumstances, Scheffler remained focused on the game, expressing his condolences to the family of the deceased pedestrian and emphasizing his commitment to golf.
The PGA of America issued a statement expressing condolences over the tragic incident, acknowledging the impact on all involved with the PGA Championship.
Despite the ordeal, Scheffler received a warm welcome from fans as he made his way onto the course, with spectators cheering him on as he began his round.
The incident comes at a pivotal time for Scheffler, who is vying to become the first player since 2015 to win the first two majors in a calendar year.
