Golf star Scottie Scheffler seen looking despondent in first pictures from jail after world number one’s shock arrest
SCOTTIE Scheffler has been seen looking despondent in the first pictures of him in jail after his shock arrest.
The world number one golfer was trying to make his tee time at Valhalla for the second round of the PGA Championship when he was detained following a misunderstanding.
Snaps have since emerged, apparently taken by a fellow inmate who sneakily got selfies as Scheffler, 27, spoke to officers on Friday.
TMZ was told by the inmate, the sportsman “kept saying it was bulls*** that he was there”.
They also claimed that starstruck jail staff and corrections officials were getting glimpses of Scheffler behind bars.
The golfer was eventually released and made his 10.08am tee time, going on to birdie the first hole and shot a five-under 66 overall.
A fatal accident involving a pedestrian outside the club in Louisville, Kentucky, at just after 5am saw Scheffler get caught up in the traffic and accidentally drag an officer with his vehicle.
He later detailed the incident on Instagram.
“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers,” he wrote.
“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 golf today.”
Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.
Prosecutors are expected to drop the charges, according to reports.
He told reporters the “huge misunderstanding” left him “rattled” as was forced to endure questioning by cops when he should’ve been preparing his swing.
He said: “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.”
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.
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.