LOUISVILLE, Ky. — World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested on assault and reckless driving charges during a reported misunderstanding over traffic flow outside of the PGA Championship early Friday morning in Kentucky, according to online jail logs and reports from ESPN.
Police officials have not yet released a statement or details about why Scheffler was taken into custody.
Scheffler, 27, of Dallas, released a statement on his Instagram, calling the incident a "very chaotic situation" and that there was a "big misunderstanding" regarding where he should drive as he tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club. Police at the time were responding an earlier fatal accident involving a pedestrian and shuttle bus.
Scheffler said he "was proceeding as directed by police officers" who were working traffic control.
"I never intended to disregard any of the instructions," Scheffler said.
Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines in Louisville, also described it as a misunderstanding and told The Associated Press, “We will litigate the case as it goes.”
Scheffler was briefly booked into the Louisville, Ky., jail on charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief and reckless driving, according to ESPN. Scheffler was then released from jail and returned to Valhalla Golf Club for his 10:08 a.m. tee time, which was pushed back by tournament officials.
When Scheffler arrived at Valhalla, ESPN reporter Marty Smith asked him if he had any comment.
"Love you Marty," Scheffler said, as he walked into the clubhouse.
Scheffler's arrest happened near the entrance to Valhalla, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Darlington.
Darlington reported shortly before 7 a.m. Eastern Time Friday that Scheffler, of Dallas, tried to drive past a police officer and into Valhalla. When the police officer "attempted to attach himself to Scheffler's car," Darlington reported, Scheffler stopped his car at the entrance to the golf course.
The officer "then began to scream at Scheffler to get out of the car," reported Darlington, who also went on ESPN's SportsCenter to give his account of what he witnessed.
"When Scheffler exited the vehicle, the officer shoved Scheffler against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs," Darlington reported. "He is now being detained in the back of a police car."
The officer, identified in an 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.
The officer was dressed in a high visibility reflective jacket when he stopped Scheffler's car to give instructions, the arrest sheet said. Gillis was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
ESPN footage from the scene outside of Valhalla also showed what appeared to be Scheffler in handcuffs and being escorted into the back of a police vehicle.
A later video posted by Darlington showed Scheffler being walked away in handcuffs and a police officer telling the person filming the video: "Here's the thing. Right now, he's going to jail. He's going to jail and it ain't nothing you can do about it. Period. There's nothing you can do about it."
According to online jail logs, Scheffler was booked into the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections at 7:28 a.m. Scheffler's booking page included a mugshot, with Scheffler in an orange jumpsuit.
Here was Scheffler's full statement posted to his Instagram:
"This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers. 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 that passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective."
The incident was unfolding at the same time that police were responding to a reported fatal crash in the same area. WHAS 11 in Louisville reported that a pedestrian was killed in a crash involving a shuttle bus outside Valhalla. The PGA Championship confirmed in a post on X that there was an accident near the golf course and that the second round of the tournament would be delayed.
Scheffler was initially scheduled to tee off at 8:48 a.m. Eastern Time before the tournament was delayed. The reigning Masters champion fired a -4 in the first round and is sitting in a tie for 12th place, five shots back of leader Xander Schauffele.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details. The Associated Press contributed to this report.