# PGA Championship 2024 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** golf\ **Created:** [May 17, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696 "2024-05-17T13:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/1 "2024-05-17T13:34:39Z")
Using the following story as my excuse to start the thread: > **[Scheffler arrested before PGA Championship](https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/40162983/scottie-scheffler-detained-police-prior-start-pga-championship)** > > World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested by Louisville Metro Police on Friday morning after trying to drive into the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club, the site of this week's PGA Championship. The thing is, wouldn’t his vehicle have a sticker or such identifying him as a player? Note the apparent modus operandi before he drove up was indeed to wave in players and officials and other vital personnel. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/2 "2024-05-17T13:40:48Z")
"Traffic outside the golf course had been stopped after a man was struck and killed by a shuttle bus around 5 a.m. ET. … **Scheffler was trying to drive around the crash scene on a median**. A police officer instructed Scheffler to stop, but Scheffler continued to drive about 10 to 20 yards toward the entrance." [bolding mine] In case it needs to be said, if you’re driving on a median in front of the police against their instructions, **you’re the asshole**. Perhaps, according to Scheffler’s attorney, there was some confusion, but if the police tell you to stop, you fucking stop. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/3 "2024-05-17T16:08:51Z")
One issue is that it may not have been clear that they were police, vs. hired guards, since the cars they had were unmarked not full police cruisers. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/4 "2024-05-17T16:23:08Z")
And the police officers and the security hired guns were wearing the same yellow rain slickers. Scottie would be about the last athlete I would expect to run afoul with the law. All things considered he is playing a very respectable round in the rain (1 under par through 7 holes) ---
**Author:** ![Kitten\_Mitten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@Kitten\_Mitten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitten_Mitten)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/5 "2024-05-17T17:27:28Z")
Perhaps. But one of the very last people that I think would ever get in trouble with law enforcement is Jordan Speith. 😍 My manager went to the Championship to see 🐅 but he sent 2 pics of Jordan to me. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/6 "2024-05-17T19:08:35Z")
An ESPN reporter witnessed the event. > According to ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, who witnessed the incident, Scheffler was trying to drive around the crash scene. At one point, according to Darlington, Gillis attached himself to the side of Scheffler’s car. Scheffler stopped his car as he turned into the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club. > > After about 20 to 30 seconds, Scheffler rolled down his window to talk to the officer. The officer grabbed Scheffler’s arm to pull him out of the vehicle, according to Darlington. The officer reached inside the vehicle to open the door, and once Scheffler was pulled out, he was pushed against the car and placed in handcuffs. > > Darlington was standing at the entrance when Scheffler was detained. Darlington said Scheffler turned to him and asked, “Can you help?” > > According to Darlington, an officer instructed him to back away. Darlington is not some low level reporter either, so presumably we’ll get a pretty straightforward accounting of what actually happened. > [@John\_DiFool](#): > > The thing is, wouldn’t his vehicle have a sticker or such identifying him as a player? Note the apparent modus operandi before he drove up was indeed to wave in players and officials and other vital personnel. > “He was going into Valhalla to work out,” Romines said. "He was getting ready for his tee time. They were directing traffic. He held his credential out and was going in like they’d been instructed to. Apparently, they have credentials (likely lanyards), not window stickers, which makes sense since most folks are probably using rental cars or drivers. Complicating matters is that the officer in question was not a regular member of the event crowd control, so he likely wasn’t informed of the established processes and credentials. My inclination is generally to assume that claims of injuries and damage from police following an incident should be taken with a massive grain of salt. But I also tend to assume that every celebrity, star athlete and elite will act like an entitled asshole in most situations, so this is a real pickle. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/7 "2024-05-17T20:00:19Z")
It was reported that body cam video is currently under review. I’m a huge golf fan, and love Scottie. He’s one of those guys no one has a bad word to say about—courteous, generous, low key. He’s described as a homebody who married his high school sweetheart, humble, religious, nice to everyone. This morning on the PGA broadcast several people said versions of the same thing: Scottie is the last player you’d think would be in this situation. I just watched his post-round presser and it was classic Scottie: calm, honest, low key. He started by offering his condolences for the man who was killed, saying that was the tragedy, his own situation would get handled. He couldn’t talk about the incident other than to say how scared he was, how confusing and chaotic it was, how professional the police were. Anyway, I’m waiting for further details, but Scottie just does not seem like the “fuck that cop’s instructions, doesn’t he know who I am, I’m flooring it” type. Just the opposite. But we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/8 "2024-05-17T20:15:23Z")
Yup, this is purely speculative on my part, but the scenario that seems most plausible to me is that Scottie was stuck in traffic due to the earlier incident, was running a little late, and then saw a path to the side entrance where players and other VIPs are allowed to go. He left his lane and drove over the double line into the oncoming lane when it was clear. The police officer didn’t know who he was, where he was going and what the processes were. His mandate was simply to keep traffic in line, he saw an SUV steering around traffic in what looked to him like an entitled asshole move. To him, the equivalent of a guy blasting down the emergency lane on the highway in rush hour. The cop started yelling at the people inside a closed car and got a little up in his feelings about not being heard. So he decided to escalate and jump onto the running boards of the car which is insane. Scottie stopped and the cop then got physical with him. Maybe there’s a decent reason for the cop to have tried grabbing onto a moving car, but I struggle to see what that might be. Unless Scottie was about to run over bystanders standing in the road, I have no idea what rational human jumps onto a moving car. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/9 "2024-05-17T22:45:34Z")
As seen on Twitter, if Scottie wins the 4 majors this year, would we call it a Grand Slammer? ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/10 "2024-05-18T03:02:22Z")
You know the World has really gone bonkers when a Pro Golfer has to fire-fight his way to the practice green. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/11 "2024-05-23T20:39:43Z")
We now have video of the incident, and it seems my speculation was pretty much dead on. [https://x.com/GOLF\_com/status/1793686085736022518](https://x.com/GOLF_com/status/1793686085736022518) If anything I probably gave the cop too much credit. He clearly strikes the car after chasing it down. He also reaches in through the window of the car and appears to be trying to drag him out. Scottie was driving slowly and no one was in any jeopardy until the cop did stupid things. Of course the cop did not turn on his body cam and has supposedly been “disciplined” for that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/12 "2024-05-23T20:41:52Z")
He needs to be hauling garbage after the upcoming official arraignment, if it isn’t dropped completely at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/13 "2024-05-23T20:42:58Z")
The Louisville police has apparently dug in its heels and will not be dropping charges. So yeah, bunch of stand-up individuals in the prosecutor’s office. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/14 "2024-05-23T21:25:16Z")
Cop has been disciplined in the past for unprofessional behavior: > ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/15 "2024-05-24T20:01:10Z")
Sounds like the asshat with the badge is starting to dislike the spotlight. > **[Sources say Scottie Scheffler, arresting LMPD detective mutually agree...](https://www.wave3.com/2024/05/23/sources-say-scottie-scheffler-arresting-lmpd-detective-mutually-agree-charges-should-not-proceed/)** > > The pressure is mounting for the charges against the world’s top golfer Scottie Scheffler to be dropped. This report seems to suggest that the video released is not actually the first interaction between the car and the cop and this is showing the cop’s reaction to the supposed dragging. He apparently did not identify himself as a cop when he first jumped on the car and Scottie tried to escape the attack. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/16 "2024-05-24T21:39:17Z")
Seems like a counterproductive attempt at saving face. “We arrested and cuffed him, then charged him with a crime. Don’t we have to, you know, act like something actually happened?” ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-championship-2024/1001696/17 "2024-05-29T18:34:18Z")
> **[Kentucky prosecutors drop all charges against golfer Scottie Scheffler](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/kentucky-prosecutors-drop-charges-golfer-scottie-scheffler-rcna154471)** > > Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell told the court his office does not have the evidence necessary to move forward. So apparently the drama is over. > Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell told the court that the evidence against Scheffler doesn’t even meet the lower standard of “probable cause.” > > “Therefore based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler,” O’Connell told the court, dropping all charges. > “He’s glad it’s over," the golfer’s defense attorney Steve Romines told reporters outside of court. > > The golfer had considered filing a civil lawsuit against Louisville authorities but Romines said his client didn’t want that “distraction.” > > “Litigation is a distraction for anyone,” Romines said. "And the truly historic season he is having right now, being involved in litigation would be a distraction. " > **[Scottie Scheffler charges dropped after PGA Championship arrest](https://nypost.com/2024/05/29/sports/scottie-scheffler-charges-expected-to-be-dropped-after-arrest/)** > > Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officer directing traffic in a May 17 incident b… Other reports include this little nugget. > Earlier in the day, Terry Meiners of WHAS [reported Wednesday](https://x.com/terrymeiners/status/1795823838900686933) that the agreement between parties “stipulates that both sides agree not to pursue any legal action related to the ramifications” of Scheffler’s detainment earlier this month outside Valhalla Golf Club. Which, if true, is a damn shame. The prosecution was likely being stubborn specifically to get this concession. I think these kinds of agreements should be illegal. The prosecution essentially extorted Scheffler to get him to not pursue any damages. Which of course means that this cop gets to continue in his job as a hot head and a belligerent bully and ultimately no one suffers any consequences.