June 09, (THEWILL) – The reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is still grappling with the aftermath of his arrest prior to the PGA Championship last month. Despite charges being dropped, the world’s top-ranked golfer admits the incident will forever linger in his mind.
The 27-year-old was arrested in the early hours before the second round at Valhalla on driving-related offenses stemming from attempting to circumvent a police roadblock. He spent several hours in jail, had a mugshot taken, and then remarkably returned to card a 66 that day before fading over the weekend to tie for 8th.
“It was fairly traumatic being arrested going into the golf course,” Scheffler said. “The charges being dropped doesn’t give total relief, that mugshot is not going anywhere anytime soon. It’s something that will always kind of stick with me.”
The American insists he never considered legal action against Louisville police, saying: “I did not want to have to pursue legal action because the people of Louisville are then going to have to pay for the mistakes of their police department.” He credits support from loved ones for helping overcome the ordeal.
While the experience was hugely disruptive, Scheffler maintains it has not affected his elite level of performance, which has seen him win four times, including the Masters this season. “If I’m showing up at a tournament, it’s not some sort of ceremonial deal. I’m here to play.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
