Golf world primary Scottie Scheffler was handcuffed and arrested on Friday after allegedly dragging a police officer together with his automobile whereas attempting to keep away from visitors controls outdoors the PGA Championship at Valhalla. In one of many strangest scenes ever at a serious match, Scheffler was taken into custody by police, booked with a mugshot taken in an orange jumpsuit, launched, returned to the course in time for his second spherical, then recovered effectively sufficient to fireside a five-under par 66 and share third early within the second spherical.
“I nonetheless really feel like my head is spinning a bit of bit however I used to be lucky to have the ability to make it again out and play some golf,” Scheffler mentioned. “I’ve saved myself within the match now with a reasonably chaotic day.”
Scheffler, 27, was charged with felony assault on a police officer, felony mischief, reckless driving and disregarding alerts from an officer directing visitors and launched.
“My state of affairs will get dealt with,” Scheffler mentioned. “I can not touch upon any of the specifics, however it was simply an enormous misunderstanding that can get resolved I believe pretty shortly.”
Scheffler was detained by Louisville Metro police after he drove onto curbing attempting to get round a previous accident on the Valhalla entrance, one which resulted within the fatality of a pedestrian named as John Mills.
“My sympathies exit to the household of Mr. Mills,” Scheffler mentioned. “I can not think about what they are going by way of.”
A police report on the incident obtained by ESPN mentioned arresting officer Bryan Gillis says Scheffler disobeyed orders to cease his automobile and accelerated, dragging the officer to the bottom.
Gillis was hospitalized with ache, bruising and swelling in his left wrist and knee. An arraignment is about for Tuesday.
“I by no means supposed to ignore any of the directions,” Scheffler mentioned in an announcement earlier than his spherical.
Scheffler, who received his second Masters title final month, arrived at Valhalla’s clubhouse about half-hour after his launch and just below an hour earlier than his begin time within the second spherical, which started after an 80-minute delay as a result of accident.
“We had been devastated to study {that a} employee with certainly one of our distributors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus,” the PGA of America mentioned in an announcement. “That is heartbreaking to all of us concerned with the PGA Championship.”
The PGA of America later recognized Mills and mentioned of Scheffler, “We’re absolutely cooperating as native authorities evaluation what came about.”
‘I used to be fairly rattled’
Scheffler was pushed from the reserving, by the proprietor of Valhalla Golf Membership in line with ESPN, to the clubhouse, the place he ate breakfast and became his golf attire earlier than going to the apply vary to organize for his spherical.
“I used to be fairly rattled to say the least,” Scheffler mentioned. “I used to be shaking. I might say in shock and in worry. Popping out right here and attempting to play right this moment was undoubtedly a problem, however I did my greatest.
“It in all probability took just a few holes to really feel regular.”
Followers cheered as Scheffler walked by way of the rain onto the course and gave him an enormous ovation simply earlier than his first shot landed in the fitting tough on his approach to a gap birdie.
“The followers had been super right this moment,” Scheffler mentioned. “I felt like they had been cheering additional loud for me.”
Scheffler’s mugshot in an orange jumpsuit was posted by the Louisville Metropolitan Division of Corrections after he was booked. Some followers had it on T-shirts on the course.
Scheffler has received 4 of his previous 5 begins, capturing Bay Hill and the Gamers in March, shedding in a playoff on the Houston Open, then successful the Masters and Heritage final month.
American Mark Hubbard, on 133 with Scheffler, was amazed at his efficiency.
“I noticed as everyone did the mug shot and the police report,” Hubbard mentioned. “Unbelievable that he will get arrested after which goes out and shoots 66.”
Scheffler was the feel-good story of the week at Valhalla, hoping to win his third main title per week after changing into a father for the primary time. His spouse, Meredith, gave start to son Bennett 9 days in the past.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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