The golf world was stunned when the reigning Masters Champion and world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, was arrested before the second round of the PGA Championships. Scheffler was handcuffed and charged by police after attempting to drive past an officer to enter the Kentucky course amidst traffic controls following a fatal accident nearby.

Scheffler’s detention occurred as police were managing congestion due to an earlier incident where a pedestrian was tragically hit and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. The police had set up traffic controls, and Scheffler, en route for his tee time, found himself in the midst of this chaotic situation.

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington captured the arrest on video, with an officer stating, “Right now he’s going to jail, and there ain’t nothing you can do about it.” Reports indicated that another officer inquired, “Who was that we just arrested?” Scheffler apologized to the officers, claiming he did not realize they were police.

Here is video that I took of Scheffler being arrested: https://t.co/8UPZKvPCCf pic.twitter.com/9Tbp2tyrJh

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) May 17, 2024

Other players faced similar disruptions, having to walk up to three miles to reach the course. Scheffler’s mugshot, taken after his arrest, was released by the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections.

Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated reported that Scheffler faced multiple charges, including second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals. Scheffler was released on his own recognizance and made it back to the course just in time for his 10:08 am tee time.

Steve Romines, a local lawyer hired on Scheffler’s behalf, explained that the confusion arose because the officer directing traffic did not appear to be part of the tournament detail. The assault charge, a felony, carries a potential sentence of five to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

In a statement shared by the PGA, Scheffler expressed his regret over the misunderstanding and extended his condolences to the family of the accident victim. “I never intended to disregard any instructions,” Scheffler stated, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the situation.

The PGA Tournament also released a statement mourning the loss of a vendor worker who was killed by the shuttle bus, extending heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family.

Jeff Darlington provided a detailed account of the incident, noting that Scheffler seemed unaware of what was happening as he was detained. The police, unaware of Scheffler’s identity as a top golfer, acted swiftly, leading to his temporary detention.

Despite the turmoil, Scheffler remained focused on his game. He had a remarkable first round, scoring a 67, which included an impressive 167-yard eagle on the first hole. Scheffler recently returned to competition after the birth of his first child, Bennett, and had won four out of his last five tournaments before this incident.

As the golf community processes these events, Scheffler aims to put the incident behind him and concentrate on his performance in the PGA Championships.