Golf star Scottie Scheffler reveals he was ‘shaking with shock’ as he watched himself on TV in jail after being arrested
WORLD number one golfer Scottie Scheffler has spoken out on his bombshell arrest yesterday by saying he was “shaking with shock” as he watched his arrest back on TV from inside his jail cell.
The golf ace, 27, was charged with the second-degree assault of a police officer after a clash with cops before a PGA tournament in Louisville left him locked up after a “misunderstanding”.
Scheffler is alleged to have dragged an officer along the road underneath his car after temporary traffic measures were put in place after a man tragically died earlier in the day.
The current best golfer on the planet said the “huge misunderstanding” left him “rattled” as was forced to endure questioning by cops when he should’ve been preparing his swing.
He told reporters: “It was a chaotic situation and a big misunderstanding. My head is still spinning.
“I was pretty rattled, to say the least… I was never angry, I was just in shock. I was shaking for about an hour.”
To calm his nerves, Scheffler also told reporters he bonded with the cop who drove him to jail.
He said: “We had a nice chat in the car that kind of helped calm me down. I was sitting there waiting to go in and I asked him ‘Can you just come hang out with me for a few minutes so I can calm down?’.
“When I was sitting in the holding cell, there was a TV there and I could see myself on the TV.”
Cops had set up diversion systems to deal with traffic near the Valhalla Golf Club early in the morning after a fatal accident saw a man die after being struck by a bus.
Cops were directing cars in the dark as the players started to roll in mixed with the fans.
Witnesses said Scheffler tried to swerve around what he thought was a group of security staff but were in fact police.
One cop reportedly threw himself onto the golf star’s car, screaming at him to stop driving.
A police report said The Masters champion “refused to comply and accelerated forward” during the chaos, “dragging Detective Gillis” to the ground.
The chilling death is believed to have heightened security fears at the event, say reports.
Dramatic footage showed Scheffler being handcuffed and bundled into a police car flanked by two cops.
He was then later charged with a felony offence of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer.
The golf star could potentially land himself up to 10-years behind bars for the chaos caused.
Second-degree assault is seen as a class C felony in Kentucky as a “dangerous instrument” was used to intentionally cause injury – in this instance the car.
Detective Gillis who was identified in the arrest report as the officer dragged by the car was reportedly hospitalized.
A Louisville police report said he was dragged “to the ground” and suffered “pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist” after the car “accelerated forward”.
In just three hours, Scheffler was arrested, had his mugshot snapped and then driven back to the golf course.
The golf star even said he warmed up for the tournament inside his cell.
Scheffler revealed: “I spent some time warming up in a jail cell, which was a first for me.
Tee times were pushed back to accommodate the pre-tournament favourite who rocked up just 56 minutes before he teed off in the second round.
Hundreds of cameras were present to catch the moment he arrived as fans were seen parading around the course in tops saying “Free Scottie”.
Scottie's side of the story
The golfer also cleared up his side of the story in a press conference watched by the masses before he started his second round.
Scheffler claimed it was just a “big misunderstanding”.
He said: “This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers.
“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 the golf.”
Despite the massive amount of distractions, Scheffler managed to perform to his typically high standards and posts a five-under par.
Through all the turbulence, the ace managed to make six birdies and finish on nine-under par, climbing up to third on the leaderboard.
He still sits a couple of shots off the leading pair Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.
After his round he spoke to the media and praised the support he was given by his fans.
He said on Friday evening: “Coming out here and trying to play today was definitely a challenge, but I did my best to control my mind and control my breathing… just try to play golf.
“I knew there was going to be a lot of distractions…
“But to be honest, it was great having the fans behind me. I felt they were really glad to have me out here competing today.”
Yesterday’s shocking events pushed back everyone’s tee times for the second round as investigations continued.
Squeaky-clean Scheffler is famed for his God-fearing family man image and has never been tainted by even a hint of scandal until now.
Scheffler and Ryder Cup team-mate Sam Burns even run a bible group for players and caddies.
His arrest came just days after his wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child, Bennett.
The two-time Masters champion has 10 wins on the PGA Tour and finished 2nd in the USPGA last year.
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.
