LOUISVILLE, Ky. — World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested Friday morning outside of Valhalla Golf Club hours before the second round of the PGA Championship was set to begin, and was back on the course by 9:15 a.m.
He was booked at Metro Corrections at 7:28 a.m. before being released at 8:40 a.m. Scheffler was charged with 2nd degree assault of a police officer, 3rd degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.
According to an arrest citation, an LMPD officer was directing traffic into Gate 1 of Valhalla Golf Club due to the road being closed in both directions from an earlier fatal crash involving a pedestrian and a shuttle bus at about 5 a.m.
Scheffler allegedly attempted to drive past the police officer, in a marked player's vehicle with visible credentials, to get into the club.
So how did he get out of jail so fast?
WHAS11 took that question to Sam Marcosson, a professor at the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.
"Presumably there had to be a duty judge who was responsible for processing the case, making the decision on bail, and who presumably had that paperwork expedited," said Marcosson.
WHAS11 asked Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines, how he was able to get Scheffler released so fast.
In a text message he said his job, "is to get my clients released as quickly as possible and that's what I was doing. I've had it happen many times before."
Marcosson said it's unusual for anyone to walk away anytime soon with these kinds of charges.
"With a felony charge, there would normally be a requirement to post some kind of bail," he said.
After the golfer's release, Romines explained there was a miscommunication between Scheffler and the officer directing traffic at Valhalla.
"Unaware there had been a wreck; he proceeded like they had been instructed to," said Romines.
Marcosson said a felony charge involving assault of a police officer also makes a quick release unusual.
"Especially when there is a police officer involved ordinally the commonwealth's attorney takes a strong stand in defense of police officers," he said.
Marcosson added this case raises questions about how other people are treated in the Jefferson County court system.
"Scottie Scheffler is rich, white and famous and people who are not rich, and not white, and not famous, are they getting the same treatment through the Jefferson County court system?" he said.
Romines said Scheffler did nothing wrong.
Scheffler is scheduled to be arraigned this Tuesday, May 21 at 9 a.m.
The 27-year-old is currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the world, first reaching the position in the Official World Gold Rankings in March 2022.
Scheffler won the Masters in 2022 and 2024, receiving his second green jacket last month. He became the first player to win the Players Championship back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
He has made four PGA Championship appearances.
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