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Scottie Scheffler makes USPGA tee-time by skin of his teeth after shock arrest

17 May 2024 , 14:14
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The golf ace has continued his search for a third Major title despite early-hours arrest
The golf ace has continued his search for a third Major title despite early-hours arrest

SCOTTIE Scheffler has teed off at the PGA Championship just hours after being sensationally detained by Kentucky police.

The 27-year-old was arrested outside Valhalla Golf Club prior to round two of the golf major in Louisville, KY.

Scottie Scheffler has teed off at the PGA Championship - hours after being arrested eiqrridtqiquuprw
Scottie Scheffler has teed off at the PGA Championship - hours after being arrestedCredit: ESPN
Scheffler was back at Valhalla just hours after his shock arrest
Scheffler was back at Valhalla just hours after his shock arrestCredit: AP
The 27-year-old sheltered from the rain with practice shots on the range
The 27-year-old sheltered from the rain with practice shots on the rangeCredit: AP
Scheffler was booked on Friday morning on alleged charges of second-degree assault and criminal mischief
Scheffler was booked on Friday morning on alleged charges of second-degree assault and criminal mischiefCredit: AP

Scheffler arrived back at the iconic course at 9:13 am ET ahead of his delayed tee-off time, per the New York Post.

The two-time Masters champion looked unruffled as he take the front entrance back into the clubhouse.

Moments later he emerged onto the practice course, hitting iron shots in the rain with his fellow competitors.

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Scheffler teed off alongside fellow US stars Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman at 10.08 am ET.

He was serenaded by shouts of "Scottie! Scottie!" from the watching crowd.

The ice-cool world No. 1 started off his round in style, carding a birdie on the first.

Scheffler was sensationally booked into the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections following an incident outside the iconic golf course this morning.

He allegedly failed to follow police orders during a pedestrian fatality probe.

Police in Louisville say a man was hit and killed by a shuttle bus outside the course this morning, via WDRB-TV.

It led to cops closing the road outside the course, with the second round of the golf major delayed.

Scheffler was involved in a "misunderstanding with traffic flow [that] led to his attempt to drive past a police officer into Valhalla Golf Club," ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported on X.

The golf ace was put in handcuffs as incredible footage saw him bundled away from the scene by law enforcement.

He has since been charged with "second-degree assault, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officer directing traffic," per a police report attached to his orange jumpsuit mugshot.

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Scheffler was originally due to tee off at 8.48 am ET.

Xander Schauffele led the field after Day 1 in Valhalla after a record-equalling -9 round of 62.

Scheffler teed off five shots off the lead on -5.

The two-time Masters champion has 10 wins on the PGA Tour and finished 2nd in the USPGA last year.

ESPN reporter Darlington was on hand to witness the incredible events unfold around 5.45 am ET on Friday morning.

"Scheffler was then walked over to the police car, placed in the back in handcuffs," he told ESPN's SportsCenter.

"[He looked] very stunned about what was happening.

"[He] looked toward me as he was in those handcuffs and said, ‘Please help me.’

"He very clearly did not know what was happening in the situation - it moved very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively.

"He was detained in that police vehicle for approximately 20 minutes.

"The police officers at that point did not understand that Scottie Scheffler was a golfer in the tournament nor, of course, that he is the No. 1 player in the world."

Prior to hitting the course, Scheffler broke his silence with a statement on X, via the PGA Tour.

"This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers," he wrote.

"It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.

"I never intended to disregard any of the instructions.

"I'm hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today.

"Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier incident this morning.

"It truly puts everything in perspective."

The world No.1 was arrested by police in Louisville, Kentucky, this morning
The world No.1 was arrested by police in Louisville, Kentucky, this morningCredit: PA
Scheffler returned to Valhalla hours after his arrest to tee off in the second round of the USPGA
Scheffler returned to Valhalla hours after his arrest to tee off in the second round of the USPGACredit: AP

Jim Sheridan

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