Miles Bennett
The world of professional golf has seen its fair share of controversies, with some golfers even ending up behind bars. One notable incident involved Scottie Scheffler, the number one male golfer in the world, who was arrested and booked into a local jail before the start of the PGA Championship's second round in May 2024. Scheffler was released in time to tee off and eventually returned to the course, finishing the tournament tied for eighth place. Another famous golfer, Angel Cabrera, spent 30 months in prison for domestic abuse and was released in 2025, granting his first interview to Golf Digest after his release.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Arrest | 17 May 2024 |
| Golfer's Name | Scottie Scheffler |
| Charges | Second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic |
| Outcome | Charges dropped |
| Other notable pro golfers who have been in jail | Angel Cabrera |
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What You'll Learn
Scottie Scheffler arrested before PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 golfer, was arrested by Louisville Metro Police on Friday morning, on his way to the PGA Championship. He was driving toward the Valhalla Golf Club when he was stopped by Detective Bryan Gillis of the Louisville Metro Police, who was directing traffic due to a fatal accident on the road outside the golf course. John Mills, a local man working for a tournament vendor, had been struck and killed by a shuttle bus.
Scheffler tried to enter the property amid the chaotic situation, continuing to drive slowly past the officer and toward the golf course. The officer then attempted to stop Scheffler's car, at which point Scheffler stopped at the entrance and began following the officer's instructions to exit the vehicle. As he was complying, Scheffler was reportedly pulled out of the vehicle, "shoved" against it, handcuffed, and detained. He was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic. The assault charge is a felony, while the others are misdemeanors.
Scheffler was released without bail at 8:40 a.m. ET, less than an hour before his scheduled tee-off time of 10:08 a.m. ET. He arrived at Valhalla, changed, ate breakfast, and visited the driving range about 30 minutes before his round. In a statement, Scheffler called the incident a huge misunderstanding and expressed his desire to focus on the golf tournament.
On May 29, 2024, all charges against Scheffler were dismissed, bringing an end to the legal saga.
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Charges against Scottie Scheffler dropped
Scottie Scheffler, the world's number one male golfer, was arrested and briefly jailed in Louisville, Kentucky, on 17 May 2024. The incident occurred outside the Valhalla Golf Club, where the PGA Championship was taking place.
Scheffler was attempting to enter the golf club when he was stopped by Detective Bryan Gillis, who was dressed in a high-visibility reflective jacket. The golfer's vehicle was prevented from passing due to a fatal accident that had taken place earlier. A shuttle bus had struck and killed a local man, John Mills, who was working at the tournament.
Scheffler was arrested and faced charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer. He was released without bail less than an hour before his scheduled tee-off time.
On 29 May 2024, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell announced the dismissal of all charges against Scheffler. O'Connell stated that the evidence supported the conclusion that Detective Gillis was concerned about public safety and that there was a misunderstanding between him and Scheffler. The prosecutor's office could not proceed with the prosecution, bringing an end to the legal saga.
The incident sparked a range of reactions, with some fans chanting "Free Scottie!" and wearing t-shirts with similar slogans during the tournament. Others made light of the situation with comments and jokes. Scheffler himself described the incident as an "unfortunate misunderstanding" and expressed his wish to put it behind him.
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Angel Cabrera's first interview after prison
In his first interview after being released from prison, Angel Cabrera expressed remorse for his actions and the "serious mistakes" he had made. He told Golf Digest that he was grateful for the support he received from the golf world while incarcerated, including messages from fellow golfers Retief Goosen, K.J. Choi, John Daly, and Pat Perez.
Cabrera also revealed that he had been allowed to go out to a soccer field at his prison and take some swings with a stick or broom handle. He described the experience of returning to a golf course after his release, saying it felt like a "rebirth". Cabrera acknowledged that he had behaved in a way that was not acceptable and that he had only himself to blame for his actions. He stated that he was ready to move forward and work on improving his public image.
The interview also addressed Cabrera's return to competitive golf. He shared his feelings of self-doubt before hitting his first golf shots after his release and expressed gratitude for the positive treatment he received from the golf world. Cabrera also addressed his conviction, stating that he respected the opinions of those who disagreed with his return to the Masters but felt that, as a former winner, he deserved to be in the field.
The golfer also discussed his visa issues, which had prevented him from playing in the Masters the previous year, and his plans for the future. Cabrera, who was sentenced to two years in prison for threatening and harassing his ex-girlfriends, served his sentence in Brazil and Argentina and was released on parole in August 2023.
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Fans react to Scheffler's arrest
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 male player in the world, was arrested and booked into a local jail in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, May 17, 2024, before his tee-off time for Round 2 of the PGA Championship. He was released the same morning and made it back to Valhalla in time for his second round, with all charges eventually being dropped.
Fans reacted to the news of Scheffler's arrest with a mixture of extreme support and humour. A large crowd followed Scheffler from hole to hole at the PGA Championship, chanting "Free Scottie!". Some fans printed T-shirts with Scheffler's mugshot, while others wore orange prison jumpsuits. One fan yelled, "You look great in orange!", while another said, "One of us!".
Some fans expressed disappointment and disbelief at the news of Scheffler's arrest, with one saying, "I don't necessarily think that Scottie did anything intentionally malicious, and I think it was a big misunderstanding." Another fan, Peter Prest of New York, called it "an unfortunate event" and expressed hope for Scheffler's recovery.
Despite the chaos surrounding his arrest, Scheffler maintained his focus and shot a 66 to enter the clubhouse just two behind the leaders, demonstrating his resilience and determination to perform well despite the challenging circumstances.
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Scheffler's charges and jail time
Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1-ranked golfer, was arrested while on his way to the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship on Friday, May 17, 2024. He was stopped by Louisville Metro Police and booked at the Department of Corrections shortly before 7:30 a.m. after trying to drive into the entrance of the golf club. This was due to a fatal accident that had occurred earlier, where a shuttle bus struck and killed a 69-year-old man named John Mills, a worker with a vendor for the PGA of America.
Scheffler was initially charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, which is a felony, and the misdemeanors of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic. The second-degree assault charge carries a potential sentence of 5-10 years in prison and a fine of $1,000-$10,000, while the other charges are lesser misdemeanors.
Scheffler was released from jail without bail less than two hours after his arrest and arrived in time for his tee time. He claimed that the incident was a misunderstanding and that he was proceeding as instructed by the police officers at the time.
On May 29, 2024, all four charges against Scheffler were dismissed in court, with County Attorney Mike O'Connell stating that the evidence supported Scheffler's characterization of the incident as a "'big misunderstanding." The case attracted close scrutiny, and the arresting detective was disciplined for not activating his body-worn camera during the incident.
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Frequently asked questions
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 male golfer in the world at the time, was arrested before the PGA Championship Round 2 in May 2024.
Scottie Scheffler faced charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
Yes, the charges against Scottie Scheffler were dropped. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell asked a judge to drop the four charges against Scheffler, stating that the evidence supported Scheffler's explanation of a misunderstanding with the police.
