World No 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was taken to jail on a string of charges – including a felony charge of assaulting a police officer – after being arrested by police outside Valhalla Golf Club on Friday morning.

In remarkable footage, which flooded social media, Scheffler was seen being led into a police car in handcuffs as he tried to enter the club before his second round of the PGA Championship.

‘Can you please help me?’ a panicked Scheffler could be heard asking a nearby reporter in the stunning clip.

He found himself on the wrong side of law enforcement after reportedly trying to pull around what he believed to be security staff. It was in fact cops, who told him to stop. When he didn’t, ESPN reported, the officer attached himself to Scheffler’s car. The world No 1 then drove around another 10 yards before stopping. 

The officer is then said to have grabbed at Scheffler’s car, attempting to pull him out of the car before Scheffler opener the door. He was then dragged out of the vehicle, pushed up against it and placed in handcuffs.

The world No 1, 27, was later booked into jail and a mugshot released via the Louisville Department of Corrections. DailyMail.com can confirm that Scheffler has since been freed from jail after being charged with the following:

• Second-degree assault of a police officer, which is a felony

• Third-degree criminal mischief

• Disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic

Scottie Scheffler was detained in handcuffs by police outside Valhalla Golf Club on Friday

 In remarkable footage the world No 1 golfer was seen being led into a police car

‘Can you please help me?’ a panicked Scheffler could be heard asking eyewitnesses

 The world No 1 was involved in a bizarre misunderstanding with officers following an accident

Scheffler arrived back at Valhalla around 9:10am ET, having been booked and released

The 27-year-old was driven back to the course in a black Range Rover alongside his agent

The incident occurred as the second round of the PGA Championship was delayed Friday due to a fatal accident near the club. 

At 5:09am on Friday, a pedestrian was hit and killed by a shuttle bus outside the golf course. Scheffler was not involved in the accident but he was caught in a massive traffic backup around Valhalla.

The world No 1 was due to tee off for his second round at 8:48 ET alongside Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman. That has now been pushed back to 10:08, with Mail Sport told Scheffler will be on the tee at that time.

According to ESPN, Scheffler was detained by Louisville Police at 6.01am. He had been attempting to enter the course, with media told that players would be allowed through the gates – even as everyone else was kept out. 

News of his arrest broke almost immediately and he was booked by Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections at 7:28am. He had to change into an orange jumpsuit before being released at 8:40am.

Scheffler arrived back at Valhalla around 9.10am, having been driven into the course in a black Range Rover alongside his agent Blake Smith. He was asked for a comment by ESPN reporter Marty Smith. He responded: ‘I love you, Marty.’

According to ESPN, Scheffler then walked into the clubhouse dining room and said, ‘hey everybody’, before sitting down and eating a plate of eggs.

Shortly after 9:30am, with little over half an hour until his tee time, Scheffler was seen heading to the practice range. He was given a great reception by fans, one of whom shouted: ‘You’re not a criminal!’

He passed many of his rivals, including Rickie Fowler who asked him: ‘All good?’ Scheffler simply replied: ‘All good.’ 

Scheffler was attempting to enter Valhalla for the second round of the PGA Championship

The incident occurred as Friday’s action was delayed due to an unrelated fatal accident 

Scheffler was not involved in the accident which caused a traffic backup around Valhalla

Steve Romines, a local attorney hired on Scheffler’s behalf, provided more details in a brief news conference. He said:  ‘Apparently there had been a traffic accident, maybe even a fatality, down the road and that had changed the traffic patterns and he was unaware of that. 

‘The officer that was directing traffic, that was maybe not part of the event traffic detail, that’s where the miscommunication arose.

‘They are allowed to go through, they have the credentials, so he proceeded like they had been instructed to. We’ll litigate the case as it comes, Scottie will cooperate fully.

‘He did exactly as he was instructed to do to enter the premises. He’s been released, we’ll decide if he’s going to play golf today or not, and we’ll deal with the court system as it comes.’

It’s claimed that the officers had no idea who Scheffler was when they first detained him. ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington claimed: ‘One police officer came up to me with his pad and said – pen in hand – “Can you tell me the name of the person we’ve just arrested?”‘

As the golfer was led away, Darlington – who filmed the incident – attempted to get the attention of officers. He was warned: ‘Back up or you’re going to jail also!’

‘Right now, he’s going to jail,’ another officer said. ‘He’s going to jail and there’s nothing you can do about it. Period.’

It is claimed that confusion arose as Scheffler tried to navigate his way around a traffic cordon set up following the accident. The entrances to Valhalla were swarming with dozens of cop cars on Friday morning.

According to Darlington the situation moved ‘very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively’. Scheffler was put in a squad car – still in handcuffs – before reportedly being released. 

Scheffler returned to the course on Thursday after his wife Meredith gave birth to a son

Scheffler posted this picture of his newborn son Bennett ahead of the tournament in Kentucky

The world No 1 signs autographs for supporters following a practice round at Valhalla

It’s claimed that Scheffler was unaware that the person he was dealing with was a police officer. 

Players are given courtesy cars and, according to ESPN, another player arrived at Valhalla around 5.45am before attempting to move around the cordon – just as Scheffler did. 

When officers saw the markings on his car, he was waved through without incident.

Scheffler sits in a tie for 12th after ending his first round on four-under-par. As is typical for players at a major championship, the world No 1 was arriving at Valhalla around three hours early.

Players reach the course in good time in order to have breakfast, work out and go through their warm-up before heading to the first tee.

Scheffler had enjoyed an incredible start to the 2024 season, with his past five tournaments ending in four victories and one second-place finish. 

He has enjoyed a period of dominance not seen since the heyday of Tiger Woods and his wife Meredith gave birth to their first child, a son named Bennett, only days before the PGA Championship.