American professional golfer Scottie Scheffler during a round of golf Picture: Michael Reaves / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
Golf world number one Scottie Scheffler was handcuffed by police early Friday, according to video footage and media reports, after allegedly trying to drive around traffic controls outside the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Scheffler was detained when he attempted to drive past an officer to get into the Kentucky course as police dealt with congestion caused by a separate accident that he was not involved in, according to witnesses and US media reports.
ESPN's Jeff Darlington posted a video on X of Scheffler, wearing shorts and T-shirt with his hands held behind his back, being led away by police in the incident before dawn.
As police lights flashed in the dark, police shouted at witnesses to stand back and one officer said "right now, he is going to jail and there's nothing you can do about it".
Full details on Scottie Scheffler’s arrest, excellent reporting by @JeffDarlington.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) May 17, 2024
pic.twitter.com/GnRFR9gEgS
Darlington said the incident was a misunderstanding over traffic flow, and a police officer had screamed at Scheffler to get out of his car and Scheffler was shoved against the vehicle and placed in handcuffs before being put in the back of a police car.
The PGA of America said the second round was delayed by more than an hour, without giving any further details.
Top-ranked new father Scheffler fired a 67 on Thursday, including a 167-yard, one-bounce eagle from the fairway on the first hole with a 9-iron.
Scheffler won The Masters at Augusta National last month, and was again the heavy favourite coming into this week’s event.
On Thursday, Gary Player said a dominant player in golf is always a good thing.
The legendary SA golf icon Player said that a dominant force, like Tiger Woods was in the 2000s, could only benefit the game.
AFP