Breaking down Scottie Scheffler’s chaotic day at the PGA Championship
Golfweek’s David Dusek is at the PGA Championship in Louisville, KY and recounts the dramatic scenes that played out surrounding world no. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler.
Top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler’s next court appearance has been postponed nearly two weeks as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his surprising arrest outside Valhalla Golf Club last week.
A Jefferson County (Kentucky) judge agreed to move Scheffler’s arraignment, which had previously been scheduled for Tuesday, to June 3 at 9 a.m. The 27-year-old Scheffler is facing four criminal charges, including one felony count, after an encounter with a police officer directing traffic outside of the golf course ahead of the second round of the PGA Championship.
The judge in Scheffler’s case postponed the arraignment over the objection of Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, a spokesperson for his office said in a statement.
“Our office continues to gather information in the case,” the spokepserson, Josh Abner, said in an e-mailed statement.
Scheffler’s attorney did not immediately reply to messages seeking comment.
Scheffler, the world’s No. 1-ranked male golfer, was arrested a little before 6:30 a.m. on Friday, ahead of his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship, which is one of golf’s four major events.
According to a statement from Scheffler and the initial narrative from police, the reigning Master’s champion was arriving at the golf course in a marked player’s vehicle when he encountered an officer directing traffic named Bryan Gillis; Additional police had been on scene in response to a fatal traffic accident earlier in the morning.
Police said Scheffler did not obey verbal instructions from Gillis, continuing on toward Valhalla’s entrance. Scheffler said he was “proceeding as directed,” and his attorney said he displayed his credential.
An ESPN reporter who witnessed the encounter said Gillis latched onto Scheffler’s car as it continued moving, while the officer wrote in a criminal complaint that he was dragged to the ground by Scheffler’s vehicle, causing pain and swelling in his left knee and wrist and damaging his pants.
The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department said in statement Monday that it is continuing to investigate the incident. It also confirmed a statement from Louisville’s mayor over the weekend that there is no body camera footage of the encounter.
“The incident is under review internally and will proceed through the judicial process,” the police department said. “We would like to restate that all parties involved are fully cooperating. LMPD is committed to a thorough investigation for all involved.”
Scheffler was booked into a Louisville jail and released in time to make his scheduled tee time Friday. He finished in a tie for eighth at the PGA Championship and is expected to compete at a PGA Tour event in Fort Worth, Texas this week.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @Tom_Schad.