Masters champion and world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler scored a 5-under 66 on the second spherical of the PGA Championship on Friday after being arrested on his method to the event earlier within the day for not following police orders in the course of the investigation of a pedestrian fatality.
Scheffler was booked by police at 7:28 a.m. ET, launched earlier than 9 a.m. and arrived at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky, at 9:12 a.m. He proceeded to heat up and started his second spherical at his scheduled 10:08 a.m. tee time.
The world No. 1 golfer began his spherical on the tenth gap and scored a birdie. He bought a bogey and birdie on his subsequent two holes, logged 5 consecutive pars and closed out the entrance 9 with a birdie on No. 18.
On the again 9, Scheffler had three birdies and saved par on his closing gap to shut out with a 5-under.
“I did spend a while stretching in a jail cell,” Scheffler stated on the podium after his second spherical.
After going 4-under in Thursday’s opening spherical, Scheffler entered the clubhouse tied for third at 9-under. Collin Morikawa sat atop the leaderboard at 11-under after capturing a 6-under on Friday.
Scheffler is a two-time main champion with wins on the Masters in 2022 and 2024. He’s simply over a month faraway from his newest triumph at Augusta and likewise welcomed his first little one along with his spouse final week.
Scottie Scheffler arrest timeline
Police stated a pedestrian had been struck by a shuttle bus whereas crossing the highway in a lane that was devoted to event site visitors. The person, John Mills of Louisville, was pronounced lifeless on the scene at about 5:09 a.m.
Scheffler was on his method to Valhalla just a little after 6 a.m. when he drove previous a police officer in an SUV with markings on the door indicating it was a PGA Championship automobile, in keeping with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. An officer informed Scheffler to cease and hooked up himself to Scheffler’s automobile earlier than the golfer drove about 10 yards and stopped. Police pulled Scheffler out of the automobile, pushed him up in opposition to the automobile and instantly positioned him in handcuffs, in keeping with Darlington.
An incident report filed by the Louisville Metro Police Division stated an officer, recognized as Detective Gillis, stopped Scheffler and tried to provide him directions after the golfer tried driving across the site visitors following the deadly incident. The report says Scheffler “refused to conform” and accelerated whereas dragging Detective Gillis to the bottom. Detective Gillis was transported to the hospital after struggling “ache, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee” and his “uniform pants, valued at roughly $80 have been broken past restore,” in keeping with the report.
Courtroom data present that Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree legal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding indicators from an officer directing site visitors.
“This morning, I used to be continuing as directed by cops,” Scheffler stated in an announcement launched earlier than his spherical. “It was a really chaotic scenario, understandably so contemplating the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a giant misunderstanding of what I believed I used to be being requested to do. I by no means supposed to ignore any of the directions. I am hopeful to place this to the facet and give attention to golf right this moment.
“In fact, all of us concerned within the event categorical our deepest sympathies to the household of the person who handed away within the earlier accident this morning. It really places every thing in perspective.”
After his spherical, Scheffler stated, “my scenario might be dealt with.”
Scheffler’s arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, in keeping with court docket data.
“Our major concern right this moment stays with the household of John Mills, who misplaced his life in a tragic accident early this morning whereas reporting to work,” the PGA of America stated in an announcement to NBC Information. “Because it pertains to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we’re absolutely cooperating as native authorities evaluate what came about. Whereas the authorized course of performs out, questions needs to be directed to Scheffler’s legal professional or native authorities.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.