Keynote USA—
Fresh from winning his first major at the PGA Championship, American golfer Xander Schauffele told Keynote USA that world number one Scottie Scheffler was a good person and should not face criminal charges.
Scheffler was arrested on felony and other charges after reportedly attempting to drive by the scene of a fatal crash Friday morning in Louisville, Kentucky, the site of the 2024 PGA Championship.
Later released from custody, he was able to compete in the tournament and finished at 13 under par, eight strokes behind Schauffele’s winning score.
“Scottie is a really good guy. Now I know him quite well, I compete against him and I share a physio table with him. I know he’s a good guy and he has no bad intentions,” Schauffele told Keynote USA Sport’s Don Riddell on Tuesday.
“I just hope that the family of the deceased is well. And I hope Scottie is okay. He is simply not someone who should have criminal charges on his record.”
Schauffele was not present at the time of Scheffler’s arrest. According to a Louisville Metro Police report, Scheffler was trying to enter Valhalla Golf Club when he was stopped by an officer wearing a full police uniform and a yellow reflective rain jacket.
Tannen MauryUPI/Shutterstock
Scheffler (left) and Schauffele wait to putt at this year’s Masters Tournament.
“The subject refused to comply and accelerated, dragging Detective (Bryan) Gillis to the ground,” the report states, adding that Gillis was transported to the hospital after suffering “pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee.” .
Scheffler’s attorney, Steven Romines, told Keynote USA in a statement Friday that his client plans to plead not guilty to the charges.
“He was proceeding as directed by another traffic officer and driving a marked player’s vehicle with visible credentials,” Romines said. “Amid the confusion, Scottie allegedly ignored another officer’s traffic signals, resulting in these charges.”
Romines said Scheffler stopped immediately when signaled and never assaulted an officer. The Masters champion called the situation “a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.”
Scheffler had arrived at the PGA Championship as a new father, the best golfer in the world and a heavy favorite to win a second consecutive major before the chaotic events on the eve of the second round derailed his tournament.
His arraignment was delayed until June 3. Scheffler is back on the PGA Tour when he starts Thursday in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, TX.
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