Scottie Scheffler Detained at PGA Championship After Traffic Incident

Golf star Scottie Scheffler was involved in a traffic incident outside Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky on Friday, May 17, 2024. Scheffler reportedly drove around a police barricade in an apparent misunderstanding, leading to his arrest on multiple charges. Despite the incident, Scheffler returned to the course and birdied his opening hole of the second round.

Louisville, Kentucky – Golf star Scottie Scheffler was detained by police at the PGA Championship on Friday, May 17, 2024, after a traffic incident outside Valhalla Golf Club.

Scheffler, who is coming off four victories in the last five tournaments, including a second Masters title, was reportedly driving his SUV with markings indicating it was a PGA Championship vehicle when he drove past a police officer. The officer screamed at him to stop and then attached himself to the car until Scheffler stopped his vehicle about 10 yards later.

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington characterized it as a "misunderstanding with traffic flow" as authorities were investigating a traffic fatality earlier in the morning.

Scheffler was then walked over to the police car, placed in the back, in handcuffs, and looked toward Darlington as he said, "Please help me." Darlington said on ESPN's "SportsCenter" that Scheffler "very clearly did not know what was happening in the situation."

"Right now, he's going to jail," one officer at the scene told Darlington. "He's going to jail and there ain't nothing you can do about it."

Scheffler was booked into the Louisville Department of Corrections later Friday. He was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer (a felony), criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.

Scheffler released a statement after the incident, saying, "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."

"I never intended to disregard any of the instructions," he continued. "I'm hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today."

Scheffler returned to the course less than an hour before his tee time and received a raucous round of applause as his name was announced. Despite the incident, he birdied his opening hole of the second round.

His playing partner, Brian Harman, told ESPN's Marty Smith that it was "just a wild morning, man."

Scheffler's arrest comes after he had been home in Dallas for the last three weeks waiting for the birth of his first child, which occurred on May 8.

Xander Schauffele had the lead after the first round with a 9-under par. Sahith Theegala, Tony Finau, and Mark Hubbard were tied for second place at 6-under par.