GOLF star Scottie Scheffler allegedly dragged a cop to the ground with his car leaving him in hospital.
The world number one golfer, 27, was arrested outside the PGA Championship course in Louisville after being accused of assaulting a police officer.
Scheffler later said there had been a “big misunderstanding”.
Traffic had been backed up for about a mile in both directions on the road to Valhalla Golf Club on Friday morning after an earlier fatal accident – with police directing vehicles in the dark.
Witnesses said The Masters champion – with a net worth estimated at £14million – tried to drive around what he believed to be security staff.
Scheffler reportedly stepped out of his car after a cop threw himself onto his vehicle and screamed at him to stop driving.
Wearing shorts and a t-shirt, video showed the golf star being cuffed and bundled into a police car.
In a span of three hours, Scheffler was arrested, dressed in an orange shirt for a mugshot, and returned to the golf course just 56 minutes before he teed off in the second round.
Police charged him with a felony offence of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer.
A police report said an officer, Detective Gillis, stopped Scheffler and tried to give him instructions amid the traffic chaos outside Valhalla.
But the golfer “refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground”, the report said.
The cop “suffered pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee”.
A second-degree assault is a class C felony in Kentucky and refers to intentionally causing injury using a dangerous instrument – which could be a car.
A conviction on a class C felony carries a potential prison sentence of five to 10 years.
A mugshot showing the bearded multi-millionaire looking stern-faced in an orange prison-issue jump suit was released by Louisville Department of Corrections.
In a statement released as he was warming up, Scheffler said there had been a “big misunderstanding”.
He said: “This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers.
“It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.
“I never intended to disregard any of the instructions.
“I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on the golf today.”
He added: “Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning.
“It truly puts everything into perspective.”
Witnesses said that Scheffler was the victim of a misunderstanding and had believed players were being allowed through the club gates.
But the officer who arrested him had no idea who he was and believed he was jumping the traffic queue.
Sport reporter Jeff Darlington – who captured the drama – 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 was warned by cops: “Back up or you’re going to jail also!”
Another cop said: “Right now, he’s going to jail and there’s nothing you can do about it. Period.”
I never intended to disregard any of the instructions
Scottie Scheffler
Darlington said Scheffler looked at him and said “please help me” as he was led away.
Players are given courtesy cars and another who arrived at Valhalla was waved through, according to witnesses.
Markings on the door of the car indicated Scheffler was driving a PGA Championship vehicle.
Tee times for the second round of play were delayed for all players – including Scheffler – as police continued to investigate the tragedy amid traffic delays.
Squeaky-clean Scheffler is famed for his God-fearing family man image and has never been tainted by even a hint of scandal.
His shame came just days after his wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child, Bennett.
Scheffler and Ryder Cup team-mate Sam Burns even run a bible group for players and caddies.
Before returning to action on the the USPGA tour after a three-week break to welcome his new baby, the star gushed: “At home it was a nice time to reflect a little bit on my career so far and where my life has gone.
“I married my high school sweetheart and I always wanted to play professional golf, and of course I’ve done that, and won two Masters and become world No 1.
“When I was at home I was sitting there with a newborn in my arms and the green jacket in the closet. It was a pretty special time I think.”
The drama came weeks after he was crowned Masters Champion for a second time with his four-shot victory at Augusta National.
THE images of Scottie Scheffler being hauled off to jail in handcuffs will shock the golfing world, because no-one has a more clean-cut image than the world No 1, writes David Facey.
Scheffler’s detainment for allegedly speeding past a police car on his way to tee off in round two of the USPGA Championship goes against everything the god-fearing family man stands for.
The fact that it has happened barely a week after his wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child, Bennett, makes it even more shocking.
Scheffler and Ryder Cup team-mate Sam Burns organise a bible group attended by other PGA Tour players and caddies, and there has never been a whiff of scandal associated with the 27 year old.
Before returning to action at the USPGA – following a three week break to enjoy becoming a dad for the first time – Scheffler spoke about how blissfully happy his life was now.
He said: “At home it was a nice time to reflect a little bit on my career so far and where my life has gone.
“I married my high school sweetheart and I always wanted to play professional golf, and of course I’ve done that, and won two Masters and become world No 1.
“When I was at home I was sitting there with a newborn in my arms and the green jacket in the closet. It was a pretty special time I think.”
One moment of madness, or a mix-up, could see his world turned upside down.
