Following his victory at the PGA Championship, American golfer Xander Schauffele has spoken out in support of fellow golfer Scottie Scheffler, who recently faced legal issues stemming from an incident in Louisville, Kentucky.
Scheffler, currently ranked as the world No. 1, was arrested on felony charges after allegedly attempting to bypass the scene of a fatal crash in Louisville, the host city of the 2024 PGA Championship. Despite the arrest, Scheffler was released and permitted to compete in the tournament, finishing eight shots behind Schauffele’s winning score.
In an interview with CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, Schauffele remarked, “Scottie is a really good guy. I know him fairly well now – competing against him and sharing a physio table with him. I know he’s a good dude and there is no mal intent meant by him.”
Schauffele, who was not present during Scheffler’s arrest, expressed concern for the family affected by the crash and hopes for Scheffler’s well-being. However, he emphasized that Scheffler “is just not someone who should have criminal charges on his record.”
According to a Louisville Metro Police report, Scheffler was stopped by an officer while attempting to access Valhalla Golf Club. The report states that Scheffler allegedly refused to comply with the officer’s instructions, resulting in the officer being dragged to the ground and sustaining injuries.
Scheffler’s attorney, Steven Romines, stated that his client intends to plead not guilty to the charges, attributing the incident to confusion regarding traffic signals. Romines asserted that Scheffler had stopped immediately when directed and did not assault any officers.
Scheffler, who had arrived at the PGA Championship as a new father and a strong contender for victory, saw his tournament disrupted by the legal proceedings. His arraignment has been postponed until June 3.
Despite the legal challenges, Scheffler is set to return to the PGA Tour, teeing off at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday.
