Scottie Scheffler’s caddie Ted Scott: “Oh my gosh, this is terrible”

Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, has opened up about the harrowing moment the PGA Tour star was arrested during the PGA Championship and how it impacted him personally. Scheffler’s arrest, which occurred outside the gates of Valhalla before the second round of the prestigious major, left Scott and the golfing world shocked. The arrest stemmed from a tragic series of events involving heavy traffic, partly caused by a fatal accident in which a PGA of America employee, 69-year-old John Mills, was struck and killed by a shuttle bus.

Scheffler, a two-time Masters champion, was caught up in the chaos while attempting to navigate through the gridlock. His actions, perceived by law enforcement as reckless, led to him being handcuffed and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals. Fortunately for Scheffler, the charges were later dropped. Jefferson County attorney Mike O’Connell stated that Scheffler’s actions did not meet the necessary elements to constitute a criminal offense.

Scheffler, reflecting on the incident, held no animosity toward the authorities, attributing the whole situation to a misunderstanding during an already chaotic time. He described it as “a big misunderstanding” that occurred in the midst of confusion. His caddie, Ted Scott, has since shed light on how the incident unfolded from his perspective, while also praising Scheffler for not taking legal action against the city of Louisville following the ordeal.

In an interview with *GOLF’s Subpar*, Scott recalled the confusion and shock he felt upon learning of Scheffler’s arrest. He described waking up 30 minutes after Scheffler had left for the course, only to receive a startling message from a friend offering condolences. At first, Scott assumed the message referred to him missing out on caddying in the third round due to his scheduled trip back home for his daughter’s graduation. However, the text soon took a shocking turn. His friend clarified, saying, “No, Scottie got arrested.”

Stunned, Scott initially didn’t believe the news, thinking it was some kind of joke. However, as more details emerged, panic set in. Scott then received an official message from the PGA of America, informing him that the second round would be delayed due to the tragic traffic incident earlier that morning. Fearing the worst, Scott’s mind raced as he tried to connect the dots. He feared that Scheffler had been involved in the fatal accident, perhaps hitting someone with his car. “My first thought was that he accidentally hit somebody,” Scott shared. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is terrible.'”

Despite the shocking turn of events, Scheffler displayed remarkable composure. After being released from custody, he returned to the course and managed to post a stunning second-round score of 66, demonstrating both his skill and his resilience under pressure. Scott was deeply impressed by how Scheffler handled the situation. “It was really cool to see his character shine above that situation,” Scott said. He added that Scheffler’s decision not to pursue a lawsuit against the city of Louisville further demonstrated his integrity. “He had such a good heart that he chose not to sue the city, which is very easy to do in that situation, because he knew it would affect the citizens of Louisville.”

Scheffler’s focus now returns to competitive golf, as he represents Team USA at the Presidents Cup in Canada. The U.S. team, heavy favorites to win, is eager to build on their previous success. Scheffler, making his second appearance at the event, will be looking to improve on his previous performance, which saw him go 0-3-1 in his debut as the U.S. clinched victory over the International side 17½ to 12½.