World primary golfer Scottie Scheffler has described his arrest simply earlier than the beginning of the second spherical of the PGA Championship as “a giant misunderstanding” with police.
Scheffler kicked off his spherical 4 hours after being detained for an incident unrelated to a site visitors accident that prompted a delay to the beginning of play at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky.
The beginning of the spherical was pushed again by 80 minutes “as a result of an accident close to the course”, in accordance with official match communications.
In accordance with ESPN, Scheffler, who was not concerned within the accident, tried to drive across the incident about an hour later, earlier than a police officer grabbed on to the golfer’s automotive.
ESPN mentioned Scheffler then stopped his automobile on the entrance to Valhalla and exited the automotive after being prompted by the officer, who positioned him in handcuffs.
Video posted on X, previously Twitter, by ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington appeared to point out Scheffler being led away, asking “Are you able to please assist?” earlier than an officer mentioned “proper now, he will jail”.
Scheffler launched a press release saying the entire thing was “a giant misunderstanding” with the cops directing site visitors outdoors the golf membership.
“This morning, I used to be continuing as directed by cops,” he mentioned.
“It was a really chaotic state of affairs, understandably so contemplating the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a giant misunderstanding of what I assumed 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 aspect and deal with golf at the moment.
“In fact, all of us concerned within the match specific our deepest sympathies to the household of a person who handed away within the earlier accident this morning.”
Steve Romines, an area lawyer reportedly assigned to Scheffler’s case, informed native media the Masters champion had been charged with second diploma assault of a police officer, third diploma prison mischief, and disregarding site visitors indicators from an officers directing site visitors.
Romines mentioned Scheffler was “unaware that there’d been a wreck” and thought he was allowed to enter Valhalla.
“Scottie will cooperate absolutely [with the investigation],” Romines mentioned.
The second spherical was scheduled to start out at 7:15am US Jap Time (9:15pm AEST) with Scheffler initially scheduled to tee off at 10:48pm AEST.
Play was finally rescheduled for 10:35pm AEST, with Scheffler, 5 pictures behind chief Xander Schauffele, set to tee off simply after midnight.
He arrived lower than an hour earlier than that rescheduled tee time of 12:08am, about three hours after his arrest, together with his traditional low-key power.
The 27-year-old made his approach to the driving vary to warm-up, fist-bumped by fellow American Rickie Fowler and applauded by followers on the best way.
Taking part in in a bunch with countrymen Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark, Scheffler was welcomed to the tenth gap with hearty applause and a loud cry of “Love you, Scottie”, earlier than he despatched his tee shot simply to the appropriate of the green.
Scheffler’s morning, whereas chaotic, got here within the wake of a much more critical accident, which he mentioned in his assertion “really places all the things in perspective”.
Per Louisville Metro Police (LMPD), a shuttle bus struck and killed an grownup male pedestrian as he was crossing the street close to the entrance gate of the Valhalla course on Friday morning (native time).
“We had a pedestrian that was struck by one of many shuttle buses between gates one and two on Shelbyville Street by Valhalla this morning,” LMPD spokesperson Dwight Mitchell informed native station NewsRadio 840 WHAS.
“It is an unlucky factor that occurred. He was crossing south to north throughout Shelbyville Street. Sadly, the bus did not see him and struck the person.
“He was pronounced useless on the scene and our site visitors unit is investigating right now.”
The PGA of America launched a press release saying the particular person killed was working on the occasion.
“We had been devastated to be taught {that a} employee with one in every of our distributors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outdoors Valhalla Golf Membership,” a press release learn.
“That is heartbreaking to all of us concerned with the PGA Championship. We prolong our honest condolences to their household and family members.”
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Reuters/ABC
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