Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, described his arrest hours before the start of the second day of the 2024 PGA Championship as “a big misunderstanding.”

“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,” Scheffler said in a statement on his Instagram story following the incident. “I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. 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 in perspective.”

Early Friday morning, a man was killed by a shuttle while trying to cross Shelbyville Road outside Valhalla Golf Club. PGA of America said the man was a worker with one of its vendors.

Reports indicate Scheffler was driving through the accident scene on his way to play in the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. He tried to pull around the police detail, which he believed to be security. After Scheffler failed to comply with a Louisville Metro Police Department detective, the officer attached himself to the golfer’s vehicle. Scheffler allegedly dragged the detective up to 15 yards with his vehicle, leaving him with minor injuries.

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Scheffler was booked at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic. 

The Masters champion was released on personal recognizance by Judge Sara Nicholson and is at Valhalla Golf Club for Friday’s PGA Championship tournament.