Ryder Cup 2018: Spectator receives urgent medical attention after being struck by Brooks Koepka drive

PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka mis-hit his first shot on the sixth hole at Le Golf National

Ed Malyon
Le Golf National
Friday 28 September 2018 11:46 BST
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Ryder Cup 2018 Footage of Le Golf National in Paris

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A spectator at the Ryder Cup received urgent medical attention after being hit above the eye by a stray drive.

PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka mis-hit his first shot on the sixth hole at Le Golf National as he and partner Tony Finau took on Justin Rose and Jon Rahm in the first match of the intercontinental golf tussle.

Local medics and gendarmes attended to a woman bleeding from the head. She was taken away with bandaging over her right eye.

Koepka, for his part, headed over to check on the fan who looked shaken by the incident, before continuing with his match.

A fan receives treatment after Koepka's drive
A fan receives treatment after Koepka's drive (AP)

"I haven't gotten an update," Koepka said afterwards when asked if he had heard any news on the spectator's condition. "I actually just asked in the locker room, and nobody knew. So I have no idea what's going on.

"I obviously saw her. It looked like it hurt. She was bleeding pretty good. It looked like it hit her right in the eye, so hopefully there's no, you know, loss of vision or anything like that.

"But it's not a fun feeling. I probably do it way more than I should. It seems just about every week we're hitting somebody, and you know, it's unfortunate. You're never trying to.

A spectator receives medical treatment after being hit by Koepka's shot
A spectator receives medical treatment after being hit by Koepka's shot (EPA)

"It doesn't feel good, it really doesn't. You feel terrible for them. You know exactly how they are feeling, especially when you've got to go over there and apologise, because they are in pain, usually bleeding, and then to hit her in the face is not -- you don't want to hit anybody in the face, especially not a woman, and it's not a good feeling. I mean, I had a terrible -- I just wanted to get out of there, so I'm glad Tony was able to chip-in and leave.

"But I'm sure we'll get an update on her in the next -- whenever we leave here, but hopefully she's doing good."

An official statement later stated: "A spectator was hit on the head by a golf ball this morning at the 6th hole. She was immediately supported by marshals and assessed by the medical team on site.

"She has been taken to the hospital as a precaution but doctors have confirmed the injury is not serious. The spectator does not have a broken nose, contrary to what some media announced."

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