Masters Tournament winner Scotty Scheffler was detained by police Friday morning as he attempted to drive into Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, where the PGA Championship is being held this week.
After a man was struck and killed by a shuttle bus around 5 a.m., traffic in the area was halted for about a mile in both directions and the only road leading to the golf club was filled with police.
World number one Schaeffler was attempting to drive around the accident scene on the median strip of the road. The officer told him to stop, but Scheffler continued driving. According to ESPNthere were reporters on the scene.
Scheffler, who was scheduled to tee off just after 10 a.m., stopped his car as he headed toward the club’s entrance. The officer pinned himself to the side of the car while driving.
The professional golfer rolled down his window, and the officer grabbed Mr. Scheffler by the arm and dragged him out of the car. The officer reached into the vehicle to open the door, then handcuffed Scheffler as he exited the vehicle. ESPN reported.
“Schaeffler was then walked to a police car, handcuffed and put in the back, very stunned by what was going on, looked at me while still handcuffed and said, ‘Please help me.’ said Jeff of ESPN. Darlington said. “He had no idea what was going on in the situation. It moved very quickly, very quickly, very aggressively.”
Scheffler is charged with second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and failing to stop a traffic-directing officer at a red light, ESPN reported. The assault charges are felonies and the others are misdemeanors, the paper said.
Darlington said he doesn’t think police know who they arrested. According to the Associated Press, one of the officers approached the reporter with a notepad and asked if he knew the name of the person in handcuffs.
Scheffler has been released, according to the Louisville Department of Corrections website. The Associated Press reported hours after his arrest that he is now back on the course.
Scheffler was released around 8:40 a.m., and his attorney said it was up to Scheffler whether he wanted to play today, ESPN reported.
pga championship said online The second round will be delayed due to an accident near the course.
Louisville Metro Police have not released much information about the man who died. Police told Louisville radio station WHAS that the man didn’t see the bus driver and crossed the road, killing himself. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Associated Press contributed
Updated at 9:27 a.m. ET.
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