Charges Against World No. 1 Golfer Scottie Scheffler Dropped After PGA Championship Arrest

The four charges against World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler were dropped on Wednesday morning, just shy of two weeks removed from the incident that led to his arrest outside Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky on May 17.

Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell filed a motion to dismiss all charges against Scheffler on Wednesday, telling a judge his office would no longer pursue the case based on the evidence.

"Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler," O'Connell said. "Mr. Scheffler's characterization that this was a 'big misunderstanding' is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler. However, Mr. Scheffler's actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses."

The Scottie Scheffler Saga

Scheffler, 27, was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, reckless driving, criminal mischief, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic after attempting to enter Valhalla before his second-round tee time. Due to a fatal accident involving a shuttle bus at Valhalla earlier that Friday morning around 5:00 AM, police presence was escalated on-site and a miscommunication unfolded with an overflow of traffic in the area. The two-time major champion attempted to enter the golf course but quickly was pulled out of his PGA Tour-marked vehicle, placed in handcuffs, and arrested by Louisville Metro Police detective Bryan Gillis.

Gillis alleged that Scheffler intentionally ignored his instructions, and when he grabbed onto Scheffler's driver-side door to pull him out of the vehicle, the reigning Masters champion accelerated his SUV and dragged him to the ground. Gillis sustained multiple injuries, including swelling and abrasions to his left knee and wrist. His $80 pair of pants were also damaged beyond repair.

However, multiple eyewitnesses have come forward to defend Scheffler, stating the golfer did not drag Officer Gillis with his vehicle. Dash-cam videos and a fixed camera from a light pole also surfaced recently, making Gillis' claims seem rather farfetched.

Gillis (conveniently) did not activate his body camera during the incident and has since been disciplined for the matter, according to LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel last Thursday.

Following the charges being dropped, Scheffler, in his usual classy fashion, released a statement on social media saying he hopes to leave the situation in the past and holds no sour feelings towards the arresting officer.

"I hold no ill will toward Officer [Bryan] Gillis. I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same," Scheffler wrote in an Instagram story Wednesday, referencing the Louisville police officer who arrested him outside Valhalla Golf Club. "Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation."

Scheffler wasn't present for Wednesday's hearing, but his attorney, Steve Romines, said he and his client were prepared to file a civil suit against LMPD if prosecutors had moved forward with the case next week.

"I had made it clear to them, as I've said, that it was not a negotiation," Romines said. "We were either going to litigate the case or it was going to be dismissed. They correctly came to the conclusion there was not probable cause and the case should be dismissed."

Romines also made it a point of emphasis that Scheffler was innocent of hitting and dragging Officer Gillis during the incident.

"[Gillis] was not struck by Scottie's car, and he was not drug by Scottie's car," Romines said. "So however he got to torn pants or a scrape on his knee didn't have anything to do with Scottie Scheffler."

Scheffler also shared in an Instagram story he hopes attention and support will now be shifted back to John Mills, who was working for a PGA Championship vendor when he was struck and fatally wounded by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla.

"I appreciate the support during the past two weeks and want to again encourage everyone to remember the real tragedy of May 17," Scheffler wrote. "My thoughts and prayers continue to be with John Mills and his family, and I hope to personally offer my condolences now that the case is over."

Scheffler miraculously shook off the incident and returned to Valhalla for his second round of the 2024 PGA Championship, where he fired a jaw-dropping 5-under 66 to surge up the leaderboard and remain in contention. Unfortunately, the two-time major champion appeared to run out of gas on Saturday, as he recorded his first over-par round in 266 days. He finished tied for eighth place.

The Dallas, Texas native was back in his hometown last week for the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge and played in the final pairing on Sunday along with eventual-winner Davis Riley. Despite Scheffler failing to pick up another victory, he's still won four of his past seven starts and has just one finish outside the top 10 this season.

Scheffler will play in next week's Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin Ohio, serving as the final tune-up event before the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.

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