Moment golfer Scottie Scheffler begs ‘please help’ while being bundled into police car as cop says he’s ‘going to jail’
GOLF star Scottie Scheffler begged “please help” as he was cuffed and bundle into a police car outside the PGA Championship course.
Video showed the pro golfer slide into the back seat of the car with its lights flashing red and blue as a cop declared: “He’s going to jail.”
The world number one golfer, 27, was detained by police outside the course after he allegedly tried to drive past cops on his way to the Championship in Louisville.
Traffic had been backed up for about a mile in both directions after an earlier fatal accident and it’s understood Scheffler failed to follow orders from police.
Scheffler was said to have stepped out of his car after a police officer threw himself onto his vehicle and screamed at him to stop driving.
Wearing shorts and a t-shirt, video showed Scheffler being led to one of several police cars parked in front of Valhalla Golf Club.
The officer reportedly shoved him against the car and placed him in handcuffs before taking him to a police vehicle and placing him in the back seat.
As police lights flashed in the dark, officers yelled at witnesses to stay back.
A police officer allegedly told ESPN’s Jeff Darlington: “There’s nothing you can do, he’s going to jail.”
Darlington said Scheffler looked at him and said “please help me” as he was led away.
“It moved very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively,” Darlington said.
Markings on the door of the car indicated Scheffler was driving a PGA Championship vehicle.
It is believed the incident took place after a misunderstanding with traffic flow led him to attempt to drive past a police officer into the golf club.
Police said he was booked for second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
He was pictured in an orange jumpsuit in a mugshot posted by the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections.
Scheffler was later released by police, according to ESPN.
Authorities had halted traffic after man was killed by a bus outside Valhalla.
Louisville Metro police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said the man was crossing Shelbyville Road about 5am and the bus didn’t see him.
Mitchell said the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Traffic had been backed up for miles as a result of the accident – leading Scheffler to try and get around the traffic to enter Valhalla, it is claimed.
Steve Romines, a local attorney hired on Scheffler’s behalf, said: “I think the officer that was directing traffic was maybe not part of the event traffic detail and so that’s where the miscommunication arose.”
Round 2 of the 2024 PGA Championship has been delayed due to the accident near the course.
All tee times are now expected to take place more than an hour after their original times, with Scheffler’s moved back to 3.08pm UK time.
He was back at Valhalla hours after his arrest at around 2.15pm UK time where he was greeted by plenty of encouragement from fans and headed straight to the driving range.
Scheffler’s detention comes just weeks after he was crowned Masters Champion with his four-shot victory at Augusta National.
It was the second time the golfer has won The Masters in just three years, living up to his billing as pre-tournament favourite by claiming the Green Jacket.
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 detainment 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.”
One moment of madness, or a mix-up, could see his world turned upside down.