By World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler has been cleared of all charges following his arrest during the PGA Championship on May 17. The incident, which occurred in Louisville, involved allegations of assaulting a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and ignoring traffic directions. However, the prosecutor found that the evidence supported Scheffler’s claim of a significant misunderstanding.
Scheffler, who was not present at the brief court hearing, expressed relief and gratitude on social media, also extending his thoughts to the family of John Mills, who passed away in an unrelated event that led to the traffic jam on the day of Scheffler’s arrest.
The arrest happened as Scheffler attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club amidst heavy traffic from a separate accident. Officer Bryan Gillis’s attempt to stop Scheffler resulted in a physical altercation and subsequent injuries to Gillis. Although a surveillance video captured part of the incident, it did not show the initial contact.
Despite the arrest, Scheffler was able to compete in the PGA Championship, finishing tied for eighth place. The case’s dismissal allows Scheffler to focus on his upcoming appearance at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, with the golf community’s support behind him. Officer Gillis faced disciplinary action for not having his body camera operational during the incident. The evidence ultimately indicated that while Gillis was acting out of concern for public safety, the events did not meet the threshold for criminal charges.
