Ryder Cup organisers helping spectator hit by Koepka drive
Ryder Cup organisers are helping a spectator who said she had been blinded after being struck in the eye by a tee shot played by American Brooks Koepka during the weekend's match against Europe, they said on Tuesday.
Corine Remande said she was unable to see out of her right eye after being hit when Koepka's drive veered wide of the fairway on the sixth hole on Friday, the opening day of the event.
"Doctors told me I had lost the use of that eye," Remande told French news agency AFP.
Remande was treated at the course before being taken to hospital. Koepka stopped to see how she was.
"It is distressing to hear that someone might suffer long term consequences from a ball strike," a Ryder Cup spokesperson said.
Organisers promised to do as much as possible to help.
"We are hugely sympathetic and will do everything we can to support the spectator, insofar as that is possible under very difficult circumstances," they said in a statement.
"We have been in communication with the family involved, starting with the immediate on-course treatment and thereafter to provide support, helping with the logistics of repatriation, including providing a transfer for the family from Paris to Lyon. We will continue to offer support for as long as necessary."
Ball strikes in golf are an occasional hazard but serious injuries as a result are relatively rare.
“We can confirm that ‘fore’ was shouted several times but also appreciate how hard it can be to know when and where every ball is struck if you are in the crowd," organisers said.
