Golf’s Biggest Scandals Through the Years: Scottie Scheffler’s Arrest, Tiger Woods’ Divorce, and More

If you thought watching golf was riveting, prepare to take a swing at the drama away from the course.

**Scottie Scheffler Arrested During PGA Championship**

In the middle of the 2024 PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky, sports fans were stunned when Scottie Scheffler was detained hours before round two on May 17, 2024. The top golfer was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals, according to local outlet WAVE 3.

Scheffler was later released and called the whole ordeal a “big misunderstanding.”

“I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today,” he said in a statement via PGA before making his tee time.

Hours before competing, Scheffler was stopped by Louisville Metro Police officers as he tried to drive into the Valhalla Golf Club parking lot. According to ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, police told Scheffler to stop driving on a path that had been blocked after a fatal car accident. Scheffler continued driving in the lot despite the police officer’s warning.

“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,” Scheffler later said in a statement via PGA. “I never intended to disregard any instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. 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. It truly puts everything in perspective.”

**Tiger Woods’ Infidelity and Divorce**

In 2009, at the peak of his career, Tiger Woods’ life was turned upside down when news broke of his infidelity. The golfer had a long-term mistress, Rachel Uchitel, and other women came forward with similar claims. Woods was married to Elin Nordegren at the time. The couple experienced a public split in early 2010, with Woods entering rehab and finalizing their divorce in August of that year.

Despite the shocking scandal, Woods and Nordegren appear to be in a much better place today as they coparent their two children, Sam and Charlie. “Tiger and Elin are truly in a great place,” a source told Us Weekly in March 2023. “He’s been so great with the kids, and that really brought her around to having a friendship with Tiger.”

**Dustin Johnson Suspended for Six Months by the PGA Tour**

In August 2014, Dustin Johnson was suspended for six months by the PGA Tour after reportedly testing positive for drugs. The golfer, however, said he was taking a leave of absence to “seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced.”

“By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being, and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion,” Johnson added.

In a January 2015 interview with ESPN, Johnson said drugs “didn’t really have a role in my life.” He also stated he never failed a drug test on the PGA tour, attributing his problems to drinking excessively. “The change I made is, I just don’t do that anymore,” Johnson said.

**Golf Digest’s Controversial Cover With Paulina Gretzky**

Golf Digest sparked controversy in May 2014 by featuring model Paulina Gretzky, the girlfriend of Dustin Johnson at the time, on its cover. This decision was criticized because the magazine had not featured a female golfer on its cover for six years. LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said, “If a magazine called Golf Digest is interested in showcasing females in the game, yet consistently steers away from the true superstars who’ve made history over the last few years, something is clearly wrong.” The publication defended the cover, pointing out that Paulina is a celebrity in the golf world due to her connections to Johnson and her father, professional hockey player Wayne Gretzky. (Paulina and Johnson wed in 2022.)

**Phil Mickelson Involved in Insider Trading Scandal**

In May 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that Phil Mickelson made $931,000 after purchasing stock on an insider trading tip. Mickelson was not criminally charged after agreeing to pay back “all ill-gotten gains” totaling more than $1 million.

A spokesman for Mickelson said the athlete had “no desire to benefit from any transaction that the SEC sees as questionable.”

“Phil understands and deeply respects the high professional and ethical standards that the companies he represents expect of their employees, associates, and of Phil himself,” the statement read. “He subscribes to the same values and regrets any appearance that, on this occasion, he fell short. He takes full responsibility for the decisions and associations that led him to becoming part of this investigation…He is pleased that this matter is over, and he will have no further comment.”

**John Daly’s Brawl With a Golfer’s Dad**

While competing at the 1994 World Series of Golf, John Daly got into a fight with Jeffrey Roth’s father, Bob Roth. According to The New York Times, Bob was upset because Daly had hit balls into the group ahead of him on the Firestone Country Club North course. Bob and Daly fell to the ground, wrestled briefly, and were separated by the crowd. Neither party was hurt badly, and neither wanted to file police charges.

**Rory McIlroy’s Divorce From Erica Stoll**

Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll, who married in 2017, announced their separation just before the PGA championship 2024. The couple, who met when Stoll was working for the PGA of America, cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. They reportedly remain on amicable terms and are focused on maintaining a friendship. McIlroy has been candid about the challenges of balancing his professional career with personal life, and he continues to navigate the complexities of his high-profile status post-divorce.

**PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf**

The golf world found itself at a crossroads when the PGA Tour and LIV Golf were competing to be the prominent golf league. According to The New York Times, players who joined LIV were forced to resign from the PGA Tour under the threat of suspension and fines. In June 2023, however, the PGA Tour and LIV announced the creation of a new entity that would combine their assets.

These scandals and controversies have added unexpected drama to the world of professional golf, proving that the action off the course can be just as compelling as the competition on it.