LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police arrested world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler Friday morning after he attempted to force his way into the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club, site of this week’s PGA Championship.
Traffic outside the golf course came to a standstill after a man was struck and killed by a shuttle bus around 5 a.m. ET.
Scheffler faces charges of second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and ignoring traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
According to ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, who witnessed the accident, Scheffler was trying to drive around the scene in a moderate distance. A police officer ordered Schaeffler to stop, but Schaeffler continued driving about 10 to 20 yards toward the entrance.
At some point, one of the officers attached himself to the side of Schaeffler’s car. Scheffler parked his car as he pulled into the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club.
After about 20 to 30 seconds, Scheffler rolled down his window to speak with the officer. The officer grabbed Scheffler’s arm to pull him from the car, according to Darlington. The officer reached inside the vehicle to open the door, and once Scheffler was removed from the vehicle, he was pushed toward the vehicle and placed in handcuffs.
Darlington was standing in the doorway when Scheffler was arrested. Darlington said Scheffler turned to him and asked, “Can you help?”
According to Darlington, an officer ordered him to stand back.
“You need to get out of the way,” the officer told Darlington. “Right now, he’s in prison, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Schaeffler, 27, has won four of his past five appearances, including his second major tournament at the Masters in April. The game was scheduled to start at 10:08 a.m. ET. The PGA of America said Schaeffler remains in custody.
The start of the second round was postponed after a shuttle bus struck and killed a pedestrian outside Valhalla Golf Club, a Louisville Metro Police Department spokesperson confirmed to ESPN.
The unidentified man was trying to cross Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. when he was struck in a designated bus lane. Police said the man died at the scene.
Several police officers and first responders were still at the scene at 6:45 a.m. ET. Traffic on the road was halted in dark and wet conditions, and shuttle buses transporting fans to the golf course were stopped.
PGA of America officials said play will begin at 8:35 a.m. ET. The second round was scheduled to begin at 7:15 a.m. ET.
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