Golfer Scottie Scheffler, currently ranked as the world’s number one, was reportedly detained and handcuffed by police after allegedly trying to bypass a traffic jam caused by a fatal accident near a golf course. The start of the second round of the US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky was postponed due to an incident in which a pedestrian was struck by a shuttle bus. 

The traffic congestion stretched approximately one mile in both directions along the sole road leading to the venue. Scheffler reportedly tried to drive past a police officer when he was pulled over. According to ESPN, a misinterpretation of traffic directions resulted in Scheffler driving past police officers. This led to the golf star inadvertently obstructing their entry to Valhalla. 

The police officer then shouted at Scheffler to exit the vehicle, which he did, before being placed against his car and subsequently detained. Sky Sports stated that Scheffler was released by Louisville Police after attempting to navigate around a traffic cordon while on his way to participate in the second round of the tournament.

The detective who arrested the world's leading golfer has been reprimanded for failing to turn on his body-worn camera during the arrest, the local police chief said on Thursday. Scheffler, 27, faces several charges stemming from the traffic incident.

He is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disobeying a traffic control officer. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 3. Louisville police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told reporters, "The detective who made the arrest violated policy by failing to turn on his camera." 

The detective, Bryan Gillis, "has been in counseling with his supervisor," Gwinn-Villaroel said. "We understand the seriousness of the failure to record this interaction, which is why our officer has received corrective action," she said.

As for the charges Scheffler faces, Gwinn-Villaroel said, "We respect the judicial process and will allow the courts to proceed accordingly." Meanwhile, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said, "Video of Scheffler's arrest will be released later on Thursday. The video is from a fixed pole camera across the street and from the dashboard camera of a police car, he said.

Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines, has said the golfer will plead not guilty and called the incident a "huge misunderstanding". Police said Scheffler's vehicle accelerated and dragged a police officer. The officer suffered injuries that required hospital treatment. Scheffler was released in time to play the second round. He finished the PGA Championship in a four-way tie for eighth place.

 "My main focus after the arrest was to see if I could get back out here and play. Luckily I was able to do that," said Scheffler. "I was never angry, just in shock and shaking the whole time. It was definitely something new for me to get to feel like that. The officer who took me to the prison was very nice. He was great. We had a nice chat in the car and that kind of helped to calm me down a little bit."

The world number one said: "It was a chaotic situation and a big misunderstanding."  He reiterated that his heart goes out to the person who died in the accident. Scheffler thanked the fans for their support as he played. The golfer arrived at the course 54 minutes before his tee time. 

The court hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday, just two days after the tournament.However, a judge postponed the hearing until June 3, according to a statement released by Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell. "Today, the District Judge presiding over Mr. Scheffler's case granted the defendant's attorney's motion to continue Mr. Scheffler's arraignment from May 21 to June 3 at 9 a.m., over the objection of Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell," the statement said.