Extraordinary footage shows world number 1 Scottie Scheffler being handcuffed and detained by police outside the gates of Valhalla before the second round of the US PGA Championship. Eyewitnesses said police and Scheffler became involved in a misunderstanding with police over traffic flow and he was removed from his tournament vehicle.
Friday’s start times in Valhalla had already been pushed back by an hour and 20 minutes after an early morning accident near the course led to the death of a pedestrian.
Scheffler’s original time was 8:48 a.m., meaning he had traveled to Valhalla for warm-up duties while it was still dark. There is currently no confirmation as to whether the Masters champion and US PGA tournament favorite will be released by police in time to take part in the second round.
ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, who witnessed the incident, said on air: “Traffic was backed up and the building was growing. Scottie Scheffler attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club through a side median, and a police officer ordered him to stop. Scheffler tried to drive away, but the police officer then attached himself to the side of Scheffler’s car.
“Scheffler stopped the vehicle as he entered the Valhalla Golf Club at the entrance, approximately 10 to 20 meters from the point where the police officer first told him to stop. At that point, the police officer ordered Scheffler to get out of the car. He rolled down the window, the police officer grabbed his arm and started pulling on it. He reached in, opened the car door, pulled Scheffler out, pushed him against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs.
LMPD had previously released a statement about the traffic accident. “This morning around 5 a.m., LMPD responded to a report of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian and a bus,” the statement said. “Our preliminary investigation revealed that an adult male pedestrian was crossing Shelbyville Road from south to north when he was struck by a shuttle bus traveling eastbound in the mandatory center lane designated for buses.
“As a result, the pedestrian was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. The LMPD Traffic Unit is investigating.”
Darlington also posted footage to his account on X, formerly Twitter, in which Scheffler appeared to turn to the reporter and say, “Can you please help me?” A police officer then tells the reporter, “Right now he’s going to jail and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Scheffler, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, was then led to a waiting car by fellow law enforcement officers.