Posted on: May 17, 2024, 08:40h.
Last updated on: May 17, 2024, 08:50h.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked golfer and betting favorite at this week’s PGA Championship, is out of jail following his arrest early Friday morning.
Scheffler, the 2023 Masters champion and most sportsbooks’ biggest liability this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, was arrested this morning after failing to adhere to a police barricade.
A large police presence surrounded the lone road to Valhalla after a spectator shuttle bus fatally struck a pedestrian on Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. Law enforcement had closed the road to investigate the accident.
Scheffler reportedly attempted to drive around the nearly one-mile backup. A police officer grabbed onto his vehicle, which was sporting PGA Championship decals, and Scheffler stopped after about 10 yards.
The 27-year-old and new father was quickly handcuffed and escorted to a police vehicle. A most shocking development for Scheffler’s squeaky-clean image.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington witnessed it all.
“Scheffler was walked over to the police car, placed in the back, in handcuffs, very stunned about what was happening, looked toward me as he was in those handcuffs and said, ‘Please help me,’” Darlington said. “He very clearly did not know what was happening in the situation. It moved very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively.”
Booked, Released
Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. His processing paperwork shows he’s been charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
The PGA Championship had delayed the start of the second round because of the accident. Scheffler was released at 8:40 a.m. and is expected to make his tee time, which had been delayed to 10:08 a.m.
Reports said Louisville police seemingly had no idea who they were arresting in Scheffler, who reportedly said he was told by PGA staff that player vehicles would be allowed to proceed around the police barricade to the course entrance.
Scheffler making his tee time and remaining in the tournament is a major win for the many bettors who have action on him this week. Sportsbook reps say if he had missed his tee time, most bets on Scheffler would have remained valid and the books would have kept the wagers.
Though a golfer’s arrest to cause a missed tee time in a major championship would have been unprecedented, since Scheffler played the first round, all “to win” and other finishing position wagers would have been determined as losing bets.
Louisville Backlash?
Golf fans are in an uproar this morning, with many expressing grievances with the Louisville Metro Police Department for Scheffler’s arrest. “Free Scottie,” “Misunderstanding,” and “Boycott Louisville” are among the trending topics on X this morning.
Scheffler shot -4 for a 67 in his opening round on Thursday to trail by five after Xander Schauffele lit up an easy Valhalla with an opening round 62.
Despite being T12 after the first round, Scheffler has the second-shortest outright odds along with Rory McIlroy at +400 (-5). Schauffele is now the betting front-runner at +240.
