Scottie Scheffler tees off at the PGA Championship after being arrested

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested on the way there on Friday morning PGA Championshipwith stunning images showing him handcuffed as he was taken to prison for failing to follow police instructions during an investigation into a pedestrian death.

It’s within four hours Top golfers in the world was arrested in gym shorts and a T-shirt, wore an orange prison shirt for his mugshot, returned to Valhalla Golf Club in golf attire and made his second-round tee shot at 10:08 a.m.

The Louisville Metro Police Department said Scheffler was charged with four charges, including second-degree assault on a police officer, after his vehicle knocked an officer to the ground.

Scheffler said the incident was a “big misunderstanding.”

“This morning I followed police instructions,” he said in a statement released while warming up at the shooting range. “It was a very chaotic situation, understandably given the tragic accident that had occurred previously, and there was a big misunderstanding about what I thought I should do.

“I never intended to disobey any of the instructions,” he said. “I hope I can put that aside and focus on golf today. Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest condolences to the family of the man who died in the accident this morning. It really puts everything into perspective.”

His attorney, Steve Romines in Louisville, also described it as a misunderstanding and told The Associated Press: “We will continue to pursue the case as it goes.”

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said jousting salesman John Mills was the pedestrian killed and expressed condolences to his family. Greenberg also said the incident between Scheffler and LMPD was “unfortunate” and that police were investigating.

On the only road leading to Valhalla, traffic was backed up for about a mile in both directions in the morning darkness and light rain. Dozens of police vehicles flashed red and blue lights near the driveway.

According to police, a pedestrian was hit by a bus while crossing the street in a lane designated for tournament traffic and died at the scene at around 5:09 a.m

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington said Scheffler, the world No. 1 player who was scheduled to start the second round at 8:48 a.m., drove past a police officer in his SUV shortly after 6 a.m., with markings on the door indicating that it was a PGA Championship vehicle.

The officer yelled at him to stop and then held on to the car until Scheffler stopped about 10 yards later, Darlington said. The officer, identified in the arrest report as Det. Gillis was dragged “to the ground” and suffered “pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist” after the car “accelerated forward,” according to Louisville police.

Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. — about 2 1/2 hours before his updated tee time after the second round was delayed due to the death. In addition to the assault charge, he was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and failure to obey traffic signals by an officer directing traffic.

“The main thing is that he did exactly as he was told to in a marked vehicle with credentials,” Romines said. “He didn’t do anything intentionally wrong.”

The officer was wearing a reflective vest when he stopped Scheffler’s car to give instructions, the arrest report states. Gillis was taken to the hospital for his injuries.

Darlington watched it unfold. He said police pulled Scheffler out of the car, pushed him against the car and immediately handcuffed him.

“Scheffler was then led to the police car, put in the back seat, handcuffed, very stunned by 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 moved very quickly, very quickly, very aggressively.”

Mitchell told Louisville radio that the man crossed Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. and the bus did not see him. Mitchell said the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scheffler was released by police and returned to the track at 9:12 a.m. Around 9:30 a.m. he made his way to the practice facility and was greeted by fans – one chanting “Free Scottie!”

Scheffler seemed normal and relaxed and was laughing on the driving range. He then went out and made birdie on his first hole of the day after keeping his approach shot to three feet.

As cars piled up in the morning darkness, other vehicles with PGA license plates tried to move slowly toward the entrance. Just before 7 a.m. the traffic finally started to move.

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

Darlington said police were not sure who Scheffler was. He said an officer asked him to leave and when he came forward to 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.

The PGA of America, which hosts the PGA Championship, expressed its condolences for Mills’ family, saying in a statement: “Concerning the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we are fully cooperating as local authorities investigate what happened. “

Scheffler has four wins in his last five tournaments, including his second Masters title. 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.

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Associated Press writer Dylan Lovan contributed.

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