Scottie Scheffler’s case has not been dropped but the officer who arrested him during last week’s PGA Championship has been disciplined for a breach of policy.
Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Detective Bryan Gillis received “corrective action” for not switching on his body camera.
“His failure to do so is a violation of LMPD policy on uniforms and equipment,” she said.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg’ said Scheffler’s court date, which was initially scheduled for Tuesday, will go ahead next Monday and that charges have not been dropped.
“We are all looking to move forward,” the mayor said. “But we have to respect the legal process. And that’s what we are going to do. We are going to let that play out.”
Scheffler was arrested after trying to drive into Valhalla Golf Club in heavy traffic caused by an earlier – unrelated – fatal accident.
While his initial contact with Scheffler was not captured in video footage released by police, Det. Gillis wrote in an arrest report that Scheffler “refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging” him to the ground.
Scheffler faces charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
Scheffler’s lawyer reiterated his stance that his client was not to blame.
“We’re prepared to litigate the case if we need to, if we don’t need to, fine,” Steve Romines said. “It will either be dismissed or it will go to trial.”
Scheffler was a late starter in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Forth Worth, where SH Kim, Martin Laird, Davis Riley, Brian Harman and Tony Finau shot four-under 66s to set the early pace.
Meanwhile, Pádraig Harrington said Rory McIlroy was “soft” for trying to rejoin the PGA Tour Policy Board.
“He was being soft by going back to it,” Harrington said on the eve of yesterday’s first rounds in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, where Australia’s Richard Green shot a seven-under 67 to lead by two shots from Mike Weir and Steve Stricker with Darren Clarke three behind after a 67.
“You know, at the end of the day, it’s not a distraction he needs. He needs to be out there playing golf.”
Harrington believes there should be minimal player involvement in the PGA Tour’s talk with the PIF.
“I think it’s perfect for Tiger,” he said. “He’s at that stage of his career. If you want to be a competitive player, it takes all your time and energy.”
At the DP World Tour’s Soudal Open in Belgium, Conor Purcell opened with a four-under 67 to lie joint 15th, five shots behind New Zealand’s Sam Jones, who had an albatross two at the 17th in a nine-under 62 to lead by two shots.
In the Jabra Ladies Open at Evian Resort, Lauren Walsh continued her strong run of form on the LET. opening with a two-under 69 to share ninth place, just three shots behind France’s Agathe Sauzon and Morocco’s Ines Laklalech, as Olivia Mehaffey shot 77.