Louisville mayor addresses 'unfortunate' Scottie Scheffler incident, promises further investigation
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Friday that the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) is “fully investigating” the early morning incident in which Scottie Scheffler was arrested while attempting to enter Valhalla Golf Club for Round 2 of the 2024 PGA Championship.
“It is unfortunate that an incident took place between an LMPD officer and Mr. Scheffler while he was attempting to enter Valhalla,” Greenberg said in a statement. “LMPD is fully investigating this incident and the legal process will proceed. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation.”
Scheffler, 27, was initially detained by police after a misunderstanding of traffic flow, per Jeff Darlington of ESPN. Per multiple reports, a “pedestrian-involved fatality” caused a traffic jam near Valhalla. Golfers and caddies were going around the scene in order to get inside the golf club and many did with no issue. Scheffler, however, was stopped.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington describes incident involving Scottie Scheffler outside Valhalla Golf Club
“Early morning here at Valhalla Golf Club, still very dark out, still rainy, there was an accident on the road just past the entrance to Valhalla Golf Club,” Darlington said in his report. “Traffic had been backed up and building. Scottie Scheffler tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club using a side median, at which point a police officer instructed him to stop. Scheffler attempted to continue to go. The police officer then attached himself to the side of Scheffler’s car. Scheffler stopped the vehicle as he turned into Valhalla Golf Club at the entrance, about 10-20 yards from the point at which the police officer first told him to stop.
“At that point, the police officer instructed Scheffler to get out of the car. There was probably 20-30 seconds that Scheffler sat in the car and did not move. He had rolled down the window. The police officer — when he rolled down the window, grabbed his arm and started pulling at it. Scheffler — I believe he reached inside, opened the car door, pulled Scheffler out, pushed him up against the car, immediately placed him in handcuffs. At which point, Scottie Scheffler, seeing me behind him, said, ‘Can you help?’
“The police officers instructed me to step back. I instructed I was a member of the media. They walked Scottie Scheffler to the police car. A police officer turned to me at me and said, ‘You need to get out of the way.’ He told me, ‘There’s nothing you can do.’ Scottie Scheffler is going to jail.”
Scottie Scheffler releases statement following Louisville PD arrest outside PGA Championship
Scheffler was booked on charges of assault of a police officer in the second degree, criminal mischief in the third degree, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic. He was released from custody shortly before 9 a.m. ET and arrived back at Valhalla ahead of his 10:08 a.m. tee time. His arraignment has been set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
Per Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, Scheffler and the officer had a “miscommunication” which led to the incident. Scheffler released a statement, saying “there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.”
“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers,” Scheffler said. “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 accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective.”
Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, is looking to win his third major overall and second this season. He captured his second green jacket in the Masters Tournament last month. After posting a 4-under, 67 in Round 1 Thursday, Scheffler is 4-under through 14 Friday, T3 on the leaderboard.