Scottie Scheffler Speaks Out After Shock Arrest

Scottie Scheffler, currently the world's number one golfer, released a statement on Friday morning following his arrest by police in Kentucky, which left fans of the sport in shock.

Scheffler was detained by the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department as he tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club for the second round of the PGA Championship. Authorities had cordoned off a street after a man was fatally struck by a shuttle bus shortly after 5 a.m. Scheffler was pulled from his car and handcuffed, claiming he was unaware of the accident.

The 27-year-old was later taken to jail, facing charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and ignoring traffic signals from an officer directing traffic, as reported by ESPN. He was released hours later without bail.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X by the PGA Tour, Scheffler addressed the incident:

“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers. 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,” stated the two-time Masters Tournament champion.

“I never intended to disregard any of the instructions,” he added. “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.”

Scheffler, who finished Thursday four under par, reflected, “It truly puts everything in perspective.”

Footage of Scheffler’s arrest quickly spread on social media. According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Scheffler had used a median to bypass the crash site, driving between 10 and 20 yards after a police officer instructed him to stop. When Scheffler rolled down his window to speak with the officer, he was grabbed and detained.

An attorney for Scheffler informed ESPN that his client was unaware of the fatality near the entrance of the golf club. Scheffler was released from jail at 8:40 a.m., less than 90 minutes before his scheduled 10:08 a.m. tee time. The star golfer made it to his tee time to a loud and supportive response from the crowd.

As of this publication, Scheffler is one-under through the first three holes.