Scottie Scheffler to have PGA Championship assault charges dropped, per report
Prosecutors in Louisville are likely to drop the charges related to Scottie Scheffler’s arrest during the PGA Championship, according to Kevin Van Valkenburg. The incident occurred early Friday morning as rain fell before dawn. Scheffler attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club ahead of his second-round tee time but encountered a chaotic scene due to an…
Prosecutors in Louisville are likely to drop the charges related to Scottie Scheffler’s arrest during the PGA Championship, according to Kevin Van Valkenburg.
The incident occurred early Friday morning as rain fell before dawn. Scheffler attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club ahead of his second-round tee time but encountered a chaotic scene due to an earlier accident, resulting in an increased police presence.
Driving a PGA Championship courtesy car, Scheffler tried to navigate around the traffic when Louisville Metro Police Officer Bryan Gillis ordered him to stop. Gillis then instructed Scheffler to exit the vehicle, subsequently handcuffing and arresting the top-ranked player. The arrest was captured on video by ESPN’s Jeff Darlington.
Scheffler was taken to jail, where he posed for a mugshot in an orange jumpsuit. He recounted how he stretched and watched the news coverage of his arrest from his cell. Police released him in time for him to return to Valhalla just 57 minutes before his tee time. Despite the ordeal, Scheffler shot a 5-under 66, which he described as one of the “best rounds of his career.”
Scheffler called the incident a “big misunderstanding,” explaining that he was merely trying to get to the course to warm up. However, he was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, criminal mischief to the third degree, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer. The police report notably mentioned that Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at $80, were “damaged beyond repair.”
On Saturday, the aftermath of the incident seemed to affect Scheffler’s performance, leading to his first over-par round since August. He acknowledged on CBS that it took some time to process the events.
Despite the serious charges, it appears Scheffler may be exonerated, with prosecutors potentially dropping the charges before his scheduled arraignment on Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET.