World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer after allegedly failing to follow orders while attempting to enter Valhalla Golf Club.
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler arrived at the PGA Championship on Friday after being released from jail following his arrest for second-degree assault of a police officer.
The incident occurred when Scheffler attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday morning. According to police, Scheffler failed to follow orders from officers who were directing traffic in the wake of a fatal pedestrian accident.
Scheffler's attorney, Steven Romines, said his client was unaware of the accident and was simply trying to get to the golf course to work out.
"He was getting ready for his tee time," Romines told ESPN. "They were directing traffic. He held his credential out and was going in like they'd been instructed to. Apparently, there had been a traffic accident, maybe even a fatality, down the road, and that had changed the traffic patterns, and he was unaware of that."
Scheffler was released from jail on Thursday night and returned to the golf course to tee off in the second round.
In a statement, Scheffler said he was "hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today."
"This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers," Scheffler said. "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. I'm hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man."
The incident has sparked a mixed reaction on social media, with some users expressing support for Scheffler and others criticizing his actions.
Scheffler has been on a hot streak lately, winning four of his past five starts. He is a two-time major champion and won the Masters last month.
The PGA Championship is the second major of the year. Scheffler is the favorite to win the tournament, but he will need to put the arrest behind him and focus on his game.
The tournament resumed on Friday afternoon, with Scheffler teeing off in the second round. He is currently in contention, sitting near the top of the leaderboard after the first day of play.
Scheffler's arrest is a reminder that even the world's best athletes are not immune to making mistakes. However, it is also a testament to Scheffler's character that he was able to put the incident behind him and focus on his game.
