No.1 Scheffler says arrest lingers despite dropped charges

PINEHURST, United States -- Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler says he is just starting to move past his arrest on driving-related charges at last month's PGA Championship and the incident will stay with him throughout his career.

The reigning Masters champion enters next week's US Open at Pinehurst still trying to get past being hauled off to jail and returning to play the second round of the PGA at Valhalla after having a mug shot taken and spending hours behind bars.

Charges were dropped last month, but Scheffler says that simply gives people more freedom to bring up the subject in conversations he would rather avoid.

"Now it's almost more appropriate for people to ask me about the situation," Scheffler said.

"It's not something I love reliving, just because it was fairly traumatic for me being arrested going into the golf course. It's not something I love talking about and it's something that I'm hoping to move past, but when the charges are dropped, that's only the beginning of getting past it.

"It was definitely a bit of a relief, but not total relief because that's something that will always kind of stick with me. That mug shot, I'm sure, is not going anywhere anytime soon."

Scheffler was arrested before dawn at the entrance to Valhalla on four charges stemming from his trying to drive around a police blockade investigating a fatal auto accident.

He was taken to jail, spending hours behind bars, and a mug shot was taken that was on T-shirts almost before Scheffler returned for his second round. He fired a 66 on Friday but struggled on Saturday and shared eighth overall.

All charges against Scheffler were dropped on May 29, prosecutors saying evidence supported his claim it was "a big misunderstanding."

But that only helps Scheffler try to get past the experience.

"All of us carry a lot more stuff off the golf course with us than we let on," he said. "Competing out here inside the ropes is a great joy but life outside the ropes can be challenging.

"Part of the recovery process from the whole scenario is your brain tries to figure out how this happened, and I will probably never figure out why or how this happened.

"It's just one of those deals. It will always be