Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested Friday morning on his technique to the PGA Championship, with gorgeous photos exhibiting him handcuffed as he was taken to jail for not following police orders throughout a pedestrian fatality investigation.
In a span of three hours, Scheffler was arrested carrying fitness center shorts and a tee shirt, was wearing an orange jail shirt for his mug shot, and returned to Valhalla Golf Membership in golf garments 56 minutes earlier than he was to tee off within the second spherical.
Visitors was backed up for a few mile in each instructions on the one highway that results in Valhalla within the morning darkness with gentle rain, with dozens of police autos flashing red-and-blue lights close to the doorway.
Police mentioned a pedestrian had been struck by a bus whereas crossing the highway in a lane that was devoted to event visitors and was pronounced lifeless on the scene at about 5:09 a.m.
ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington mentioned Scheffler, the No. 1 participant on this planet who was to begin the second spherical at 8:48 a.m., drove previous a police officer a little bit after 6 a.m. in his SUV with markings on the door indicating it was a PGA Championship car.
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The officer screamed at him to cease after which grabbed onto the automotive till Scheffler stopped about 10 yards later.
Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. — about two and a half hours earlier than he was scheduled to begin his second spherical. Police mentioned he was booked for second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree legal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding visitors alerts from an officer directing visitors.
Louisville Metro police spokesman Dwight Mitchell didn’t instantly return a name looking for remark and knowledge.
Darlington watched it unfold. He mentioned police pulled Scheffler out of the automotive, pushed him up in opposition to the automotive and instantly positioned him in handcuffs.
“Scheffler was then walked over to the police automotive, positioned within the again, in handcuffs, very shocked about what was occurring, appeared towards me as he was in these handcuffs and mentioned, Please assist me,’“ Darlington mentioned. “He very clearly didn’t know what was occurring within the scenario. It moved in a short time, very quickly, very aggressively.” Mitchell instructed Louisville radio station WHAS the person was crossing Shelbyville Street about 5 a.m. and the bus didn’t see him. Mitchell mentioned the person was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
The PGA Championship posted a discover that play would be delayed due to the accident. The second spherical was to begin 1 hour, 20 minutes later than scheduled tee occasions, that means Scheffler was not attributable to begin till a little bit after 10 a.m.
With automobiles backed up within the morning darkness, different PGA-marked autos tried to maneuver slowly towards the doorway. Visitors lastly started to maneuver steadily a little bit earlier than 7 a.m.
It was a surreal begin to what already has been a wild week of climate — the Masters champion and top-ranked participant on this planet, wearing exercise garments together with his arms in cuffs behind his again amid flashing flights.
Darlington mentioned police weren’t certain who Scheffler was. He mentioned an officer requested him to go away and when he recognized himself being with the media, he was instructed, “There’s nothing you are able to do. He’s going to jail.” Darlington mentioned one other police officer later approached with a notepad and requested if he knew the title of the particular person they put in handcuffs.
Scheffler is coming off 4 victories in his final 5 tournaments, together with his second Masters title. He was dwelling in Dallas for the final three weeks ready on the beginning of his first little one, a son who was born on Might 8.
Scheffler opened with a 4-under 67 and was 5 photographs out of the lead as he tried to grow to be solely the fifth participant since 1960 to win the first two majors of the yr.