Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked player in the world and recent Masters winner, was handcuffed and charged with felony assault of a police officer at Valhalla Golf Club after refusing to stop at the scene of a fatal accident at the course entrance.
Scheffler faces charges of felony assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic, according to court records. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim or complaining witness.
Scheffler is scheduled to appear in Jefferson District Court on May 21.
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The tournament’s start on Friday was delayed by one hour after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a shuttle bus traveling east on Shelbyville Road outside the club entrance around 5 a.m. All shuttles have been suspended, and Shelbyville Road was closed for the investigation of the accident.
A source told WDRB that Scheffler, arriving at the course for his scheduled 8:48 a.m. tee time, refused to stop when ordered by a police officer. He continued driving and dragged the officer with his car for a short time, resulting in minor injuries to the officer. Scheffler was detained at the scene.
According to court records, Jeff Darlington of ESPN posted on social media at 6:35 a.m. that a police officer grabbed onto Scheffler’s car as it entered Valhalla, causing Scheffler to stop. “The police officer then began to scream at Scheffler to get out of the car,” Darlington reported on social media platform X. “When Scheffler exited the vehicle, the officer shoved him against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs. He is now being detained in the back of a police car.”
Scheffler was tied for 12th after Thursday’s first round of the tournament, five strokes off the lead at -4. He entered the tournament as a favorite and recently became a father.
Darlington and ESPN’s Dave Fleming witnessed the incident while attempting to enter Valhalla. They said Scheffler was detained and driven off, with a police officer telling Darlington, “There’s nothing you can do, he’s going to jail.”
Speaking on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Fleming explained that players were informed they could enter the facility, and many did, but Scheffler, driving an official PGA vehicle, turned into the gates despite being told not to. As his car rolled slowly through, Darlington said an officer grabbed onto the car. Scheffler stopped, rolled down his window, and the officer reached in, opened the door, and pulled him out.
Scheffler told the officer he did not realize he was a police officer, as officers were wearing yellow rain gear. “It was heated,” Fleming said. “It was charged in the moment.”
Darlington noted that PGA Security tried to intervene but was not allowed access to the scene.
Former PGA Tour professional Andy North commented on ESPN, “Small confrontations happen frequently at golf events because so many people are trying to get in and out. Everybody’s trying to talk their way in. Situations like this are rare, especially involving a large police force; it’s usually more security guards or rent-a-cops involved.”
ESPN’s Michael Collins, at Valhalla, reported on SportsCenter that “there’s still a lot of confusion going on.”
