Topline
A police officer was hospitalized Friday after he was allegedly dragged by golfer Scottie Scheffler’s car, leading the world’s top-ranked player to be briefly arrested, and charged with assault and criminal mischief just before the PGA Championship.
The event was delayed after a pedestrian was killed in a separate incident.
Key Facts
The detective—identified only as Det. Gillis—attached himself to Scheffler’s car as the golfer tried to drive by him into Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, before requesting Scheffler leave his vehicle and placing him in handcuffs, ESPN reported.
Gillis was hospitalized after he was dragged “to the ground,” suffering “pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist” as Scheffler’s car accelerated forward, according to an arrest report obtained by the Associated Press.
Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals, according to jail records.
PGA of America delayed the PGA Championship earlier Friday, after a pedestrian walking outside the gate to the golf club was struck and killed by a bus, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The PGA Championship was delayed again shortly after Scheffler—who was scheduled to tee off at 8:48 a.m.—was arrested, delaying the start of the event until 8:35 a.m. ET.
Scheffler reportedly arrived at the Valhalla Golf Club around 9:10 a.m. and is scheduled to tee off at 10:08 a.m.
Scheffler was booked shortly after 7 a.m.
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Crucial Quote
Scheffler said in a statement to ESPN he was “proceeding as directed by police officers,” adding, “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.”
Forbes Valuation
Scheffler—the 2024 Masters Tournament champion—is the 29th highest-paid athlete in the world after earning $59.2 million across wins on the PGA Tour and endorsements with Nike, TaylorMade and Veritex Bank. He set the regular-season PGA Tour record for on-course earnings with $21 million in 2023.
Key Background
Scheffler is in a six-way tie for 12th place at the PGA Championship and five strokes behind first-round leader Xander Schauffele. Scheffler has won four PGA Tour events across 10 starts this year, including the Masters and The Players Championship, becoming the first player to win the event in back-to-back years. He has been widely regarded as one of the world’s best golfers since debuting on the professional circuit in 2018, later winning the Masters in 2022 and placing second at the PGA Championship and U.S. the same year. Scheffler became golf’s top-ranked golfer in March 2022 and has held the spot for 87 weeks.
Further Reading
Scottie Scheffler Detained By Police Before Start Of PGA Championship (ESPN)
