Masters champion Scheffler returns to PGA Championship after being arrested

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (TND) — The world's top golfer and Masters champion Scott Scheffler was back at the PGA Championship a few hours after being arrested Friday morning for reportedly not following police instructions during a a pedestrian fatality investigation.

Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines, said the arrest was "a big misunderstanding" and told The Associated Press "We will litigate the case as it goes."

Scheffler released a statement via his Instagram story shortly after his release:

This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers," he wrote. "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.

ESPN reported he was detained by Louisville Metro Police outside of the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville when he didn't stop for traffic after a man was struck and killed by a shuttle bus around 5 a.m.

Footage was released by ESPN of Scheffler handcuffed and walking toward a police car in the morning darkness, with traffic shut down for about a mile in both directions.

Police said the pedestrian was trying to cross the road when struck by a bus in a lane dedicated to vehicles entering the club. Officials added the man died at the scene.

"This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones," the PGA said in a statement on X.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg posted a statement on X identifying the pedestrian as tournament vendor John Mills and conveyed his condolences to the family.

Greenberg also called the incident between Scheffler and LMPD "unfortunate" and that the police department was investigating.

"We remain focused on the tragic loss of life and will share more information on both of these matters as available," the mayor wrote.

Reporter Jeff Darlington witnessed the incident and told EPSN Scheffler was trying to drive around the crash on a median when he was told by police to stop.

Scheffler continued to drive about 10 to 20 yards before an officer "attached himself to the side of Scheffler's car," Darlington said.

Eventually, the officer grabbed Scheffler's arm, Darlington reported, to pull him out of the vehicle before pushing him against the car and placing him in handcuffs.

The Louisville Metro Police Department booked Scheffler at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections at 7:28 a.m.

His charges were released to WAVE and include the following:

• Second-degree assault of a police officer
• Third-degree criminal mischief
• Reckless driving
• Disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic

“The main thing is he was proceeding exactly as he was directed in a marked vehicle with credentials," Romines said. “He didn’t do anything intentionally wrong.”

The second round of the PGA Championship already was delayed by at least an hour because of rain.

PGA of America, which runs the PGA Championship, offered sympathies for Mills' family and said in a statement, “As it relates to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we are fully cooperating as local authorities review what took place.”

Scheffler is coming off four victories in his last five tournaments, including his second Masters title. He was home in Dallas the last three weeks waiting on the birth of his first child, a son that was born May 8.

Scheffler opened with a 4-under 67 and was five shots out of the lead as he tried to become only the fifth player since 1960 to win the first two majors of the year.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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