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Scottie Scheffler was arrested at the PGA Championship for failing to follow instructions in a traffic jam following a traffic fatality

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested by Louisville police Friday morning on his way to the PGA Championship. Stunning images showed him being handcuffed and led to a police car before being released later that morning. ESPN reported that he failed to follow police orders during the investigation into a fatal pedestrian accident.

On the only road leading to Valhalla Golf Club, traffic was backed up for about a mile in both directions, and dozens of police cars flashed red and blue lights near the entrance.

Police said a pedestrian was struck by a bus while crossing the street on a lane designated for tournament traffic. Police said the man died at the scene, CBS affiliate WLKY reported.

ESPN said Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, who had a start time of 10:08 a.m. EDT in the second round, drove past a police officer in his SUV, whose door had markings indicating it was a PGA championship vehicle. According to ESPN, Scheffler drove past an officer who yelled at him to stop and then clung to the car until Scheffler stopped about 10 yards later.

ESPN reported that Jeff Darlington said he was monitoring the development. He said police pulled Scheffler out of the car, pushed him against the car and immediately handcuffed him.

In this still image from video provided by ESPN, Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is escorted to a police car after being handcuffed near Valhalla Golf Club, site of the PGA Championship golf tournament, early May 17, 2024.
In this still image from video provided by ESPN, Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is escorted to a police car after being handcuffed near Valhalla Golf Club, site of the PGA Championship golf tournament, early May 17, 2024.

ESPN via AP


“Scheffler was then led to the police car, put in the back seat, handcuffed, very stunned at what was happening, looked at me while he was in those handcuffs and said, ‘Please help me,'” Darlington said. “He clearly didn’t know what was happening in the situation. It happened very quickly, very quickly, very aggressively.”

Darlington said the incident began with a “misunderstanding regarding traffic flow.”

The PGA of America did not immediately comment.

A booking photo of Scheffler was briefly shown on the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections website before the photo was removed. According to the website, Scheffler was released at 8:40 a.m. and went back to the golf club.

Scottie Scheffler is seen in a police booking photo on May 17, 2024.
Scottie Scheffler is seen in a police booking photo on May 17, 2024.

Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections


The second round was delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes.

As cars drove back in the morning darkness, other vehicles marked with the PGA sign tried to move slowly toward the entrance. Just before 7 a.m., traffic finally started to slowly flow

It was a surreal start to an already wild weather week – the Masters champion and world leader dressed in training gear, his hands tied behind his back, amid flashes of lightning.

Darlington said police weren’t sure who he was. He said an officer asked him to leave and when he identified himself with the media he was told: “There’s nothing you can do. He’s going to jail.”

Darlington said another officer later approached him with a notepad and asked if he knew the name of the person who handcuffed them.

2024 PGA Championship – Round One
Scottie Scheffler looks on from the fifth hole during the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 16, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Maddie Meyer/PGA of America via Getty Images


Scheffler has won four times in his last five tournaments. For the past three weeks he has been at home in Dallas awaiting the birth of his first child, a son who was born May 8.

Scheffler opened with a 4-under 67 and was five shots off the lead as he tries to become just the fifth player since 1960 to win the first two majors of the year.

Last month, Scheffler earned his second Masters Tournament victory in three years, finishing at 11 under and four shots ahead of his closest competitors.