It’s a trending hashtag, it’s a chant and it’s even a T-shirt for sale for $10 in the parking lot at Valhalla Golf Club at the 106th PGA Championship.
Taylor Farrell and Cole Turner, friends who drove in early Friday morning from Indiana to attend the second round, were stopping to pick up a friend at a hotel when news broke that Scottie Scheffler had been detained by police ahead of his morning tee time. The hotel happened to be next to a print shop so they downloaded images off the Internet and e-mailed them to a 64-year-old lady who made the shirts.
They weren’t the only ones. Some industrious entrepreneur arrived in the Valhalla Golf Club parking lot with a carload of shirts and was selling them for $10. One fan wearing a #FreeScottie shirt said he had another and offered to sell it for $20.
Good to see that American free enterprise is alive and well.
Others simply used a black Sharpie to a white shirt while one fan wore an orange jumpsuit amid his buddies and said of Scheffler, “We’re doing this in support of him. He’s one of the most humble people on the PGA Tour.”
On several holes of Scheffler’s opening nine, fans started a chant of Free Scottie and the message spread like wild fire much like the taunts at Patrick Cantlay and his refusal to wear a hat during the Ryder Cup in Rome. Only this time it was a Scottie lovefest. Indeed, the crowd had the feel of a home Ryder Cup and Scottie received a level of fandemonium the likes of which the world No. 1 and two-time Masters champion has never experienced.
Fans who did not want to be identified wore “Free Scottie” T-shirts to support Scottie Scheffler at the 2024 PGA Championship’s second round. (Photo: Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal)
There were several creative fans who did their best to get chuckles. Some of the best:
“Scottie, I need your lawyer”
“You play pretty good with an ankle bracelet on”
“Is this your work-release program?”
And to a group of cops assigned to monitor Scheffler’s threesome: “You guys going to let him get away with that?”
When one of the officers in Scheffler’s detail was asked if he was getting heckled, he shook his head in the affirmative and said, “But I’d heckle me.”
For all the chants and cracks and fans hoping for a reaction to their shirts from Scheffler as he walked by, the world No. 1 just kept his head down and stayed in his bubble.
Scottie is free and the fans at Valhalla loved him like never before.
Compared to the loss of life, the Scheffler incident is minor. The golf world’s reaction to it was revealing nonetheless.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s been 14 months since the Department of Justice found the Louisville Metro Police Department routinely violated civil rights — including by making unlawful arrests during traffic stops — but you’d be forgiven for thinking such heavy-handedness was unprecedented until the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer was hauled off in handcuffs outside Valhalla Golf Club in Friday’s pre-dawn hours.
The particulars of what transpired around 6 a.m. will be litigated in due course. The only uncontested fact is that a traffic stop was in place after an unrelated accident claimed the life of a man working at the PGA Championship. Scottie Scheffler, still almost three hours from his 8:48 a.m. tee time but apparently eager to get started on his pre-round routine, steered around the stop and attempted to turn into the golf club’s driveway. The LMPD incident report offers a sober account of the ensuing altercation between the Masters champion and a police officer, during which the cop claims he was dragged by Scheffler’s tournament-supplied vehicle.
“Detective Gillis stopped subject and attempted to give instructions. Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground. Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee. He was transported to the hospital for further medical treatment by emergency medical personnel,” it states.
The report concludes with a line that seems almost parodic given the $18.6 million Scheffler has earned on the golf course this season: “Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80 were damaged beyond repair.” The golfer was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.
“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,” Scheffler said in a statement, in which he also expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased. “I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today.”
A booking photo of Scottie Scheffler by Louisville Metro Police after a traffic incident before the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Courtesy Louisville Metro Police via USA TODAY NETWORK
What we’re left with is a police officer who will (fairly or otherwise) be accused of overreacting, an embarrassed golfer who will (fairly or otherwise) be accused of acting as though laws don’t apply to him, and a luckless Lexus executive who will (fairly or otherwise) be rethinking the value of supplying courtesy tournament cars to professional golfers.
Compared to the loss of life, the Scheffler incident is minor. The golf world’s reaction to it was revealing nonetheless. There were ample social media posts and text messages that ranged from humorous to heretical, but some themes quickly emerged that were more exasperating than entertaining.
How can this be allowed to happen? Louisville is a crime-infested city, so helluva job for arresting a golfer! The mayor must do something! Where’s the governor? The chief of police must get to the jail and personally provide Scheffler an escort to the golf course! Why hasn’t the PGA of America marched its 30,000 members to the precinct? (Okay, that one is an exaggeration, but we’d have gotten there if Scheffler had been detained much longer).
It was a tsunami of entitled privilege underpinned by a conviction that the world’s top golfer simply can’t be treated in this manner, that he has a tee time in a major championship, that he’s attempting to win the second leg of the grand slam, that he’s a God-fearing model citizen — facts presented as though they are exculpatory. None of which actually matter a damn, and are arguments that Scheffler himself wouldn’t be so crass as to present. Even if the cop overreacted, Scheffler had no business ignoring law enforcement orders not to move his car — a lesson delivered much more harshly to many a citizen not fortunate enough to carry on with their day.
The aftermath of the fatal accident caused an enormous traffic snarl, so the PGA Championship delayed tee times by 80 minutes. Having posed for his mug shot in an orange jumpsuit — a ritual humiliation that treats traffic infractions and terrorism equally — Scheffler arrived at Valhalla at 9:12 a.m. and teed off 56 minutes later. He birdied his first hole and the insular golf world sighed in relief that disaster had been averted.
Meanwhile, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office said it had received “a couple of calls” about the man killed outside Valhalla. Identification was delayed until his family was notified.
He was John Mills, his name finally released about the time Scottie Scheffler made the turn in his second round, his grand slam hopes still very much alive.
Friday morning was one of the weirdest in the history of golf. Just after 6 a.m. ET, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with several crimes, including second-degree assault on a police officer. However, he was released before 9 a.m. ET and is currently playing in the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
As you’d expect, fans are cheering hard for Scheffler as he goes around Valhalla, and a few fans are already wearing T-shirts featuring Scheffler’s mugshot.
These girls said they bought their shirts in the parking lot. $10. Another guy wearing one offered to sell me his for $20. #Mericapic.twitter.com/sFh9Ut5Gbi
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was arrested by police misunderstanding ahead of his second round at the 2024 PGA Championship. Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m ET, according to online records accessed by Golfweek. ESPN was first to report. Jeff Darlington reported early Friday morning that Scheffler attempted to drive past a police officer into Valhalla.
Scheffler was released from custody at 8:40 a.m. ET and arrived at the golf course at 9:15 a.m. ET. According to a PGA of America source on site, Scheffler was personally escorted to the club by an owner of Valhalla and made his 10:08 a.m. ET tee time. He has retained local attorneys for the case.
Here are some photos from the golf course during Friday’s second round.
After the incident, which stemmed from Scheffler driving past a police officer into Valhalla Golf Club, golfers from around the world reacted on X (formerly Twitter) as the news continued to break on social media.
I have done what Scotty did many times. Traffic in front of course always a nightmare. Usually they see the courtesy car and let you through. Normally…..
A reminder, this is the only major that allows the devices.
The PGA of America announced back in 2021 that it would allow the use of distance-measuring devices in its three professional major championships – PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship – starting that year.
The devices made their first appearance at the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course in South Carolina.
“We’re always interested in methods that may help improve the flow of play during our Championships,” said Jim Richerson, then the president of the PGA of America. “The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”
The PGA of America became the first major body to allow the devices in all its premier professional events. There had been speculation for years that such devices might help speed play, as players and caddies don’t have to walk off yardages to sprinkler heads and other fixed positions.
The United States Golf Association’s Rules of Golf have allowed the use of laser rangefinders and GPS devices in casual play and tournaments since 2006, but a local rule allowed a tournament committee to ban such devices. At elite professional levels of play, the devices still have not been embraced for competition rounds, though they have been allowed in the U.S. Amateur since 2014. They are still not allowed during competition rounds at PGA Tour events or at the U.S. Open and British Opens.
In keeping with Rule 4.3a (1), the devices allowed can report only on distance and direction. Devices that calculate elevation changes or wind speeds, or that suggest a club for a player as well as other data, will not be allowed.
Wyndham Clark checks the distance to the 11th hole during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
The devices aren’t new for the pros, many of whom already use laser rangefinders and GPS in practice rounds.
Many laser rangefinders provide information on elevation changes and “plays-like” distances. Most of those devices come with a switch to turn off such information, but many elite players opt for devices that do not provide elevation and other data as a precaution against forgetting to turn off those functions.
Daly, 58, the winner of the 1991 PGA Championship, made his 30th career start at the PGA on Thursday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — John Daly withdrew on Friday morning ahead of the second round of the 106th playing of the PGA Championship.
Daly, 58, the winner of the 1991 PGA Championship, cited a thumb injury. He made his 30th career start at the PGA on Thursday and shot 11-over 82 at Valhalla Golf Club.
Daly plays primarily on PGA Tour Champions and has made seven starts this season, including one withdrawal. Daly used a golf cart during the first round, the only player in the 156-man field allowed to do so under permission of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Daly has five career PGA Tour wins. This is the third time he has withdrawn from the PGA Championship..
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hush comes over any outdoor sporting event when a soft rain is falling. But Friday morning at Valhalla Golf Club, site of the 2024 PGA Championship, you can feel a stunned disbelief in the air. This as if people don’t really know what to say.
After a one-hour delay in play, T-shirts are now flying in as spectators are starting to fill the size of the fairways and ring themselves around the greens, but it’s eerily quiet. Yes, people are applauding when players are introduced on the first and 10th tee boxes, but otherwise this venue is quiet.
Umbrellas are everywhere in the practice area. There’s a soft rain falling, which should make the golf course vulnerable and produce low scores. Players and caddies are chatting, but you would not know that there had been a detention of the world’s number one player a few hundred yards away a few hours before.
As gloomy skies sit over Valhalla Golf Club prior to the second round of the PGA Championship, players practice on the putting green. (Photo: David Dusek/Golfweek)
Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic but was subsequently released.
Live updates at PGA Championship 2024
8:53 a.m.: While Scheffler’s situation is certainly something everyone is aware of, the job at hand is to win a major championship and keep up with the leader, Xander Schauffele, who tees off this afternoon. The only thing you can really hear in the practice area is the dull drone of electrical generators in the trucks nearby and in the television broadcast compound.
9:33 a.m.: Scheffler arrived in the practice area to a round of applause from the fans. After walking down the hillside, he did a fist bump with Rickie Fowler, who asked “You OK buddy?” Scottie replied, “Yeah, thanks,” and kept walking.
A lone fan yelled out “Free Scottie!”
9:44 a.m.: Brendan Todd walked by Scheffler at the range and added, “It’s great to see you a buddy.”
9:47 a.m.: Scheffler’s tee time is 10:08. Typically he would start preparing hours ahead of time. He’d eat breakfast, stretch and workout, hit balls and prepare mentally for the challenge of the course. Today, it looks like that will be condensed into a soggy hour or so.
9:49 a.m.: Does anything rattle Ted Scott, Scheffler’s caddie? He’s holding an umbrella, cleaning clubs, and smiling. You’d never know his guy had been handcuffed, in a police car and charged with crimes earlier this morning.
Scottie Scheffler and caddie Ted Scottlooks on from the tenth tee during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
9:55 a.m.: Scheffler’s last drive of his warm-up had a carry distance of 292 yards. The ball speed was 177 mph. The morning’s events do not seem to have diminished his speed and he’s putting on his typical stripe on the range.
10:01 a.m.: After walking over the stair bridge and hitting a few bunker shots, Scheffler grabbed his putter and headed to the practice green. Few players, including Camilo Villegas, turned their heads. It was impossible to ignore the group of reporters, camera men, and TV people who are following Sheffler wherever he goes right now. Brian Harman is continuing to practice his putting with a mirror. Wyndham Clark and Will Zalatoris are going through their routines too. It’s the second round of a major championship and none of the things that are swirling around have anything to do with them.
10:28 a.m.: Kentucky is behind Scottie Scheffler. As he walked onto the 10th tee, chants of “Scottie! Scottie! Scottie!” erupted. While it will obviously be a very hard day for the world No. 1 player, the whole situation has created a very tough situation for Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman, too. This was always going to be a marquee group, but there’s a circus element to it now as well. As Scheffler was announced on the tee, an ocean of iPhones sprang from everywhere.
One fan yelled: “Scottie, I need your lawyer’s number!”
10:31 a.m.: Scheffler has always been a popular player, but never as popular as he is today here at Valhalla. After making a birdie on 10, he was cheered wildly walking to the 11th tee.
As is customary, the police officers providing security for Scheffler, Clark and Harman this morning. It’s a common practice with marquee players at every event, but this morning, after Scheffler was charged with assaulting one of their own, you have to wonder what is going through the minds of the police officers now assigned to ensure Scheffler’s safety.
11:39 a.m.: Scheffler released a statement to ESPN, saying “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.”
11:58 a.m.: The golf world reacts on X to the news of the arrest, with #freescottie trending.
12:10 p.m.: Check out some photos from the golf course on Friday, where fans are flocking to get a glimpse of Scheffler.
12:35 p.m.: Scheffler mug shot T-shirts have already been created, printed, sold and worn by fans at Valhalla Friday morning.
Cole Turner with a T-shirt featuring Scottie Scheffler’s LMPD mug shot at the 2024 PGA Championship second round. (Photo: Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal)
12:49 p.m.: Scheffler, who had just 30 minutes to warm up before starting his round on the 10th hole, recorded his third birdie in nine holes on the 18th before he made the turn. He’s 2 under on the day and 6 under overall, tied for seventh in the championship. Xander Schauffele, who has yet to start his second round, leads at 9 under.
1:26 p.m.: Another birdie and more cheers for Scheffler, who carded a circled 3 on the par-4 second hole, his 11th hole of the day. That moves him to 7 under and into a tie for fourth. They say very little fazes him and the fact that he’s 3 under just hours after being arrested and charged is kind of amazing. He’s currently two back on the leaderboard of Xander Schauffele and Mark Hubbard.
2:08 p.m.: Scheffler birdied the fourth for his fifth birdie of the day against just one bogey.
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024
3:01 p.m.: And yet another birdie for Scheffler. To a loud road from the fans on the seventh hole, his 16th of the day, Scheffler poured in his sixth birdie of the day to get to 9 under, two back of a red-hot Collin Morikawa, who has zoomed into the lead.
4 p.m.: Scheffler made par on his final two holes to sign for a 5-under 66 and reach 9 under par for the tournament. He’s currently T-3, two shots behind Morikawa.
Golfweek will be updating this story throughout the day.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The second round of the 106th PGA Championship has been delayed at least one hour and 20 minutes due to a pedestrian fatality near Valhalla Golf Club.
According to a police report, a man, who has been identified by police as John Mills, was crossing Shelbyville Road Friday morning near the golf course when he was struck by a shuttle bus traveling eastbound in the center lane dedicated for buses. Mills, who was reporting to work, was pronounced dead on the scene. Officers received a call to the 15500 block of Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. regarding a vehicle collision between a bus and a person.
The PGA announced that the second round will begin at 8:35 am. ET. The first grouping was expected to tee off at 7:15 a.m. ET.
The PGA of America released the following statement: “This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones.”
It later sent an update: “Our primary concern today remains with the family of John Mills, who lost his life in a tragic accident early this morning while reporting to work. As it relates to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we are fully cooperating as local authorities review what took place. While the legal process plays out, questions should to be directed to Scheffler’s attorney or local authorities.”
UPDATE
Round 2 of the 2024 PGA Championship is delayed due to an accident near the course.
Scheffler is facing the following four charges: Assault in the second degree of a police officer, criminal mischief in the third degree, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.
He has retained local attorneys for the case and has an arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 21.
Scheffler was released from custody at 8:40 a.m. ET and arrived at the golf course at 9:15 a.m. ET. According to a PGA of America source on site, Scheffler was personally escorted to the club by an owner of Valhalla and made his 10:08 a.m. ET tee time.
Jeff Darlington reported early Friday morning that Scheffler attempted to drive past a police officer into Valhalla Golf Club and that officer attempted to “attach himself to Scheffler’s car, and Scheffler then stopped his vehicle at the entrance to Valhalla.” The officer reportedly began to scream at Scheffler to get out of the car, and when the 27-year-old exited the car, he was shoved against the vehicle and placed in handcuffs. He was then detained in the back of a police car.
“They told him to stop,” Darlington said in an appearance on ESPN. “When he didn’t stop, the police officer attached himself to the vehicle. Scheffler then traveled another 10 yards before stopping the car. The police officer then grabbed at his arm attempting to pull him out of the car before Scheffler eventually opened the door, at which point the police officer pulled Scheffler out of the car, pushed him up against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs.”
In a statement provided to ESPN.com, Scheffler called it a “very chaotic situation” and said there was a “big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do. I never intended to disregard any of the instructions.”
After a brief hiatus for the birth of his child, Scheffler returned to competition this week with a 4-under 67 on Thursday and sat T-12 on the leaderboard after the first round. So far this season Scheffler has four wins at the Masters, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship and RBC Heritage. In 10 starts this season, he has nine top 10s, with a worst finish of T-17.
This story will be updated. Golfweek’s David Dusek contributed to the report.
