Scottie Scheffler defended by fellow PGA Tour pro who gives possible reason for world No1’s shock arrest
GOLF star Michael Kim jumped to the defence of Scottie Scheffler after the World No1 was detained by police in Louisville, Kentucky.
Scheffler, 27, was put in handcuffs just hours before his tee time at the PGA Championship.
He allegedly failed to follow police orders after a pedestrian was fatally struck by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club.
The Masters champion, who was due to tee off in the second round at 8:48am this morning, drove past a police officer in his car.
Markings on the door of Scheffler’s SUV indicated he was driving a PGA Championship vehicle.
The police officer reportedly screamed at the World No1 to stop, throwing himself on top of the vehicle.
ESPN claim Scheffler stopped driving around 10 metres later.
He was then pulled from the car, pushed up against the vehicle and handcuffed.
The police subsequently released a mugshot of the golf star before giving him permission to leave.
He arrived at Valhalla Golf Club shortly after.
Image of golf’s most clean-cut star in handcuffs will shock fans worldwide
The images of Scottie Scheffler being hauled off to jail in handcuffs will shock the golfing world, because no-one has a more clean-cut image than the world No 1, writes David Facey.
Scheffler’s arrest for allegedly speeding past a police car on his way to tee off in round two of the USPGA Championship goes against everything the god-fearing family man stands for.
The fact that it has happened barely a week after his wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child, Bennett, makes it even more shocking.
Scheffler and Ryder Cup team-mate Sam Burns organise a bible group attended by other PGA Tour players and caddies, and there has never been a whiff of scandal associated with the 27 year old.
Before returning to action at the USPGA – following a three week break to enjoy becoming a dad for the first time – Scheffler spoke about how blissfully happy his life was now.
He said: “At home it was a nice time to reflect a little bit on my career so far and where my life has gone.
“I married my high school sweetheart and I always wanted to play professional golf, and of course I’ve done that, and won two Masters and become world No 1.
“When I was at home I was sitting there with a newborn in my arms and the green jacket in the closet. It was a pretty special time I think.”
But it looks like one mix-up may have turned Scheffler’s world upside down.
Fellow PGA Tour pro Kim publicly defended Scheffler after he was detained.
He took to X to write: “I assume Scottie thought there was a small issue causing some traffic, and with a courtesy car, cops usually let us go thru ahead so we’re not caught up behind unnecessarily.
“Scottie was probably just thinking I need to get to the course to start my routine on time.
“Obviously with the circumstances, the cop was on edge and not letting anything go.”
He continued: “I will never drive around other cars in traffic driving into a golf tournament ever again… something I’ve done countless of times.”
Kim later added: “I thought this was going to be the major with no asterisk…”
Scheffler’s tee time was pushed back to 10:08am following the police incident.