TLDR
Contents
- Scottie Scheffler wore an orange polo at Quail Hollow, nearly one year after his arrest at the 2024 PGA Championship
- His mugshot in an orange jumpsuit went viral last year after a misunderstanding with police outside Valhalla Golf Club
- All charges against Scheffler were dropped within two weeks of the incident
- Despite his arrest, Scheffler made his tee time and shot a 66 in the second round
- This appears to be the first time Scheffler has worn orange during a tournament since the arrest
Scottie Scheffler raised eyebrows at Quail Hollow Golf Club on Wednesday when he appeared for his practice round wearing an orange polo shirt.
The color choice caught attention on social media because it closely resembles the orange jumpsuit Scheffler wore in his mugshot almost exactly one year ago, when he was arrested before the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
The world’s top-ranked golfer was detained on May 17, 2024, while trying to enter Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Police were investigating a fatal accident outside the course gates when Scheffler attempted to drive to the clubhouse. The misunderstanding led to his arrest.
Scheffler faced four charges including second-degree assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. All charges were dropped less than two weeks later, with Scheffler calling it a “big misunderstanding.”
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The Arrest and Aftermath
The incident became one of the most talked-about moments in golf last year. Despite being arrested hours before his scheduled tee time, Scheffler was released from custody and made it back to the course in time to play his second round.
In what many consider a show of mental toughness, Scheffler posted a 5-under 66 that day, the second-best score of the round. He later joked, “I did spend some time stretching in a jail cell. That was a first for me.”
Scheffler went on to finish tied for eighth in the tournament, which was eventually won by Xander Schauffele.
The image of Scheffler in an orange jumpsuit quickly spread across social media and became part of golf culture. Fans showed up at tournaments wearing “Free Scottie” t-shirts with his mugshot printed on them. Some even wore fake orange jumpsuits to show support.
Scheffler addressed the situation during filming for the third season of Netflix’s “Full Swing” documentary series.
“I was freaking out because I somehow went from driving to the golf course to a jail cell, and I still don’t really know how that happened exactly. I don’t think it really ever felt real,” he said.
During a press conference before the Memorial Tournament last June, Scheffler acknowledged the lasting impact of the incident, saying, “That mug shot, I’m sure is not going anywhere anytime soon.”
The Orange Polo Debate
Golf fans and media quickly noticed Scheffler’s orange attire at Quail Hollow this week. Claire Rogers of Golf.com pointed out on social media that this appeared to be only the second time Scheffler has worn burnt orange in the past year – the first being in his mugshot.
“Scottie Scheffler has worn burnt orange twice in the last year. First was a year ago this week at the Louisville Police Department. The second time is today. He’s got to be messing with us,” Rogers wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Some suggest the color choice could simply reflect Scheffler’s college allegiance to the University of Texas Longhorns, who play in a similar shade of orange. However, Rogers noted that despite his Texas roots, Scheffler “has not worn burnt orange on the course in many years.”
Whether intentional or coincidental, the outfit choice has stirred memories of last year’s events just days before the one-year anniversary of the incident.
Scheffler enters this year’s PGA Championship as the betting favorite. He hasn’t missed a cut on the PGA Tour this season and recently won The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, his sixth top-10 finish in nine starts.
The 2024 PGA Championship begins Thursday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fans will be watching not only for Scheffler’s play but also to see what he chooses to wear for the tournament rounds.
As Saturday will mark exactly one year since the arrest, many are wondering if Scheffler might continue to acknowledge the anniversary through his wardrobe choices or perhaps find other ways to make light of what was surely one of the strangest moments in recent golf history.
