Scottie Scheffler Freed from Custody after Detainment En Route to PGA Tournament
It's Friday morning, and top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler, who's also the betting favorite at the ongoing PGA Championship, has been released from jail.
Scheffler, who won the 2023 Masters and has become a liability for sportsbooks this week in Louisville, was arrested for failing to adhere to a police barricade at Valhalla Golf Club. The arrest came after a tragic accident where a spectator shuttle bus fatally hit a pedestrian on Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. The road was closed to investigate the accident.
Scheffler apparently tried to drive past the hefty traffic jam created by the police blockage. The police stopped his car, which was decked with PGA Championship decals, after about 10 yards.
The 27-year-old and proud new father was shocked and handcuffed, asking for help as he was handcuffed. ESPN's Jeff Darlington witnessed the whole episode.
"Scheffler was walked over to the police car, placed in the back, in handcuffs, very stunned about what was happening," said Darlington. "He looked towards me when he was in those handcuffs and said, 'Please help me.' He seemed unaware of what was happening. It went down very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively."
Charged but Out of Trouble?
Scheffler was brought in at 7:28 a.m. and has been slapped with charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic. However, there are rumors that the charges have been taken care of or even dismissed.
The PGA Championship put off the start of the second round due to the accident, but Scheffler was out of jail by 8:40 a.m. and is expected to make his tee time, which had been shifted to 10:08 a.m.
The police in Louisville didn't seem to know who they were arresting, as Scheffler claimed he was told by PGA staff that player vehicles would be allowed to continue past the police barricade and make it to the course entrance.
Thanks to Scheffler making his tee time, many bettors who had wagered on him were saved. If he had missed his tee time, the bets would've remained valid, and the books would've kept the wagers.
While a golfer's arrest delaying a major championship tee time is a first, had Scheffler not played the first round, all "to win" and other finishing position wagers would've been lost bets.
Social Media Outrage
The world of golf is ablaze with resentment, as fans are demanding Scheffler's release. Some are calling it a "misunderstanding," while others want to "Boycott Louisville." Millions of golf enthusiasts are using these phrases on their social media platforms.
Scheffler managed a -4 score for a 67 in his first round on Thursday, trailing Xander Schauffele by five after his amazing 62. Despite being at T12, Scheffler's odds for an outright victory alongside Rory McIlroy at +400 (-5) are the second-shortest. Schauffele, now the betting favorite, has +240 odds.
Fans are now eagerly waiting for the continuation of the tournament in Louisville.
Read also:
- BVB trails 1-0 against Paris, with Füllkrug leading them towards the final.
- Munich Drama: Late Real Penalty Leaves Bayern Shocked
- Lars is capable of leading BVB, according to many.
- Subsequent torrential rainfall leads to 48 fatalities due to partial highway collapse in China.
Source: www.casino.org
