2024 PGA Championship

Jordan Spieth hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the PGA Championship Practice Round at Valhalla Golf Club on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

 Darren Carroll/PGA of America

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – On a tragic, chaotic and often confusing morning at Valhalla Golf Club, players in Friday’s PGA Championship worked to process the news of a security worker’s death outside the club gates in a pre-dawn traffic accident, and the arrest of the world’s No. 1-ranked player, who was charged with failing to comply with an officer’s directions as he attempted to gain access the club in the aftermath of the accident.

Often, players were hearing the news just hours before they started playing. As they finished their rounds on Friday, many reacted with sadness for the family who lost a loved one, and shock at what happened to a popular fellow player.

The victim was identified as 69-year-old John Mills. His family said he was working as a security guard at the course this week and having fun with his assignment, adding, “He enjoyed staying busy in retirement. We love him and will miss him."

As police stopped traffic and called investigators into the scene, Shelbyville Road was shut down for a time and entrance to the course was restricted only to essential personnel, including PGA players. Scheffler was attempting to turn into the course when an officer told him to stop. An arrest report later said he did not comply, and continued to move after an officer grabbed the car. He was arrested and charged with assaulting an officer, reckless driving and other offenses. He was able to be proceed and released in time to play in Friday’s second round.

Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines, said he was doing what he was instructed to do by one officer, when another officer took issue, and arrested him.

Reactions of Scheffler's fellow player was one of understanding, and sadness for the early morning death.

“First off, it's unfortunate for the person that did pass away earlier today. I don’t think that’s getting talked about enough, or at all,” said Collin Morikawa, who shot a 6-under 65 after refocusing himself and walked off the course with the lead in the tournament. “My wishes and prayers are within that family's blessings. But look, it was a little chaotic. I woke up at 5 today, and I'll be honest, I was a little tired. As the day, morning tee times, you slowly wake up, you had that jolt of energy as a lot of things were bouncing back and forth.”

Harris English said, “Turned on ESPN and seeing Scottie in handcuffs, getting in a police car. I never would have thought I would have seen that this morning. . .. Obviously got here this morning, then news broke that Scottie had been detained and all that. We had no idea what was going on. That could have been any one of us. We're all taking that same route coming into the club.”

English estimated that he got to the course soon after the original accident happened.

“I was probably starting to come into the club around 5:05, 5:10, so I guess I got there right after all the police cars got there,” he said. “I had no idea what was going on. I knew they weren't letting anybody through from that side I was arriving from, so I had to turn around, go north of the course, took an extra 20 minutes or so, and then I got to turn into the club. But it's dark, it's raining, police lights everywhere. It was very strange coming into the course this morning. Not the normal quiet arrival.”

Mark Hubbard said he got to the course after most of the traffic had dissipated.

"Just from a the whole situational standpoint I thought the saddest part was that the whole thing was about Scottie getting arrested and all that, and like I said, I'm glad he's doing okay and everything, but I mean, someone died this morning, and we were out there on the course, and I bet 90 percent of the people out here don't even know that that happened," he said. "That's not Scottie's fault at all, but I mean, that was the real tragedy today. So, I don't even know really the whole details of that, but I hope, whoever it was, their family is doing as good as they can be and thoughts and prayers out to them."

That was echoed by Min Woo Lee.

“It was a weird morning,” Lee said. “Obviously it's very sad about the news. Then obviously Scottie, what happened to Scottie. I got in at, I would say, 5:30, around there, I would say. It was just a weird one. Obviously so much traffic. I don't know, I was a bit shook about what happened on both the scenarios. I mean, during the round it was even hard to just concentrate, and I had to make sure to keep my head in the game because I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone, and obviously what happened to Scottie was very scary, too.”

After his round, Lee posted #FreeScottie on his X account.

“I thought it was a little overreaction,” Lee said of the arrest. “Personally I went around traffic, and I was following cars -- a Lexus car that was one of the courtesy cars. . . . A lot of people were doing it. He was in a courtesy car, too, so I don't know what kind of caused it. . . . There was no really meaning to it.”

The PGA of America on Friday morning released a statement saying, "Our primary concern today remains with the family of John Mills, who lost his life in a tragic accident early this morning while reporting to work. As it relates to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we are fully cooperating as local authorities review what took place. While the legal process plays out, questions should be directed to Scheffler’s attorney or local authorities."

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